Another Evaluation for Morristown Area Woman Accused of Murder
ST. CLAIRSVILLE – After several postponed hearings because the defendant was hospitalized at a psychological care facility and unable to attend court, 20-year-old Autum Sky Stotelmyer-Palmer of Buttermilk Road, Belmont (Morristown area), appeared in court Monday morning.
The defendant is charged with one count of aggravated murder with a gun specification in the death of her child.
On August 7, 2026, Belmont County deputies responded to a 911 call and found an unresponsive one-year-old child with a gunshot wound who died at the scene.
Stotelmyer-Palmer underwent two mental health evaluations requested by the defense.
In chambers, Judge Chris Berhalter asked Belmont County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney if he had an opportunity to review if the defendant “is competent to stand trial and if she is not guilty by reason of insanity.”
“Yes, I have, Judge and at this point, the state is going to stipulate to the findings contained in both reports,” Vavra said.
Although not spoken, it is assumed the reports determined Stotelmyer-Palmer is competent to appear in court.
“I’m requesting a second competency evaluation, and as matter of law, I’m requesting a second sanity evaluation,” Aaron R. Miller, public defender, said responding to Berhalter.
Vavra did not object to the request that was granted by Judge Berhalter who set a pre-trail hearing for November 30 after the results of the new evaluation are expected to be available.
Following the hearing, Stotelmyer-Palmer was returned to the Belmont County Jail.
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