Man accused of killing five homeless people ordered to undergo psych evaluation
MONTEGO BAY, St James — Ronaldo Ricketts, the man accused of abduction and attempted rape in August of this year, was ordered to undergo psychiatric evaluation when he appeared in the St James Parish Court on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old St James resident is also facing another case in relation to the murders of five homeless people in Montego Bay.
So far, he has been charged with four of the killings.
In court on Wednesday, presiding judge Sasha-Marie Smith-Ashley ordered that Ricketts be transferred to the St Catherine Adult Correctional Centre in Spanish Town, St Catherine, for the evaluation and medical treatment of injuries to his leg.
He is being represented by attorney-at-law Henry McCurdy.
The abduction and attempted rape charges stem from an incident on August 30 in which Ricketts allegedly tried to rape a woman who entered his motor vehicle after he picked her up while pretending to be a taxi driver.
It is reported that he drove the woman to Melville Hall Avenue in Montego Bay where he allegedly pulled a knife and demanded sex from her.
The woman managed to flee and screamed for help, drawing the attention of police officers escorting a nearby ministerial tour.
Officers then took Ricketts into custody.
READ: Police nab accused rapist during ministerial tour
While in custody, Ricketts is also said to have confessed to the killings of five homeless people in Montego Bay between July 28 and August 20 of this year.
Ricketts is to return to court on November 9 for the rape matter and September 20 for the murders.
