DAYTON — A Dayton man facing multiple charges — including murder — in the stabbing of his father and the death of two girls in a stolen police cruiser crash pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
Raymond Walters’ attorney entered the plea during a hearing Thursday, according to Montgomery County Common Pleas Court records.
>> RELATED: $1M bond set for man charged in deadly stolen police cruiser crash
His attorney also requested a mental competency evaluation for Walters.
Walters is accused of stabbing his father in a pickup truck while his father was attempting to take Walters to a hospital for mental health treatment.
After his father got out of the truck, Walters drove off and crashed minutes later on Airway Road in Riverside.
Riverside police responding to the crash were unaware of the stabbing at the time, and Walters was able to get in the front seat of the cruiser.
Despite an officer using a Taser on him twice, Walters managed to put the cruiser in reverse and drive away, heading toward downtown Dayton.
>> RELATED: ‘He’s not a murderer:’ Family of man charged in fatal stolen police cruiser crash speaks out
He reached speeds over 100 mph and hit multiple vehicles before crashing the stolen cruiser into two vehicles near the Dayton Metro Library.
One of the vehicles involved in the crash was a van with seven children inside.
Two of the children, cousins Penelope Jasko of Dayton and Eleanor McBride of Huber Heights, both 6, died at Dayton Children’s Hospital.
Walters was charged with 22 counts, including murder, involuntary manslaughter, aggravated vehicular assault and felonious assault, earlier this month.
His bond was set at $1 million.
Walters is facing 15 years to life on the murder charges.
His next court date is Oct. 24 for a scheduling conference.
RELATED LINKS:
>> Man charged with murder in stabbing, stolen cruiser crash that killed 2 girls
>> Suspect in deadly stolen Riverside cruiser crash, stabbing in jail
>> Stolen police cruiser deaths: Who is Raymond Walters?
>> TIMELINE: Stabbing, crash, stolen cruiser, deadly crash
>> GoFundMe created for families of children killed by stolen police cruiser
