Bio

Scott Louis Panetti was born on February 28, 1958, in Hayward, Wisconsin. He grew up in a typical American family environment. Scott had two siblings and they spent their childhood in a small town. 

He had trouble finding stable work and often moved from one job to another. He eventually worked as a ranch hand. Around this time, Scott began to show signs of mental health issues. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia and experienced episodes of delusional thinking. These mental health problems led to numerous hospitalizations. Over a span of 11 years, he was hospitalized more than a dozen times for his condition.

In the late 1980s, Scott met Sonja Alvarado, and they got married. They had a daughter together, but their marriage faced difficulties. Scott's behavior became increasingly problematic due to his mental illness, which included episodes of drinking and abusive behavior. The couple separated in August 1992 when Sonja decided to leave with their three-year-old daughter for her parents' house. She also sought a restraining order against Scott.

Murder Story

On September 8, 1992, Scott Louis Panetti drove to his in-laws' home in Kerr County, Texas. He was armed with a sawn-off shotgun and a rifle. After breaking into the house, he shot his parents-in-law, Joe Gaitan Alvarado, Jr., age 55, and Amanda Carrion Alvarado, age 56. After committing the murders, he allowed his estranged wife, Sonja, and their three-year-old daughter to leave the house unharmed.

Panetti turned himself in to the police later that day. During questioning, he claimed that an auditory hallucination named "Sarge" had controlled him when he committed the murders. He expressed that he believed divine intervention made it so his victims did not suffer.

Shortly after his arrest, he underwent a series of legal proceedings to determine his competency to stand trial. In July 1994, a hearing was declared a mistrial because the jury could not reach a verdict on his competency. A second hearing took place in September, where differing opinions emerged from the mental health professionals. A psychiatrist for the defense reported that Panetti was not competent to stand trial, while a psychiatrist for the prosecution stated he was competent.

Ultimately, Panetti chose to represent himself during his trial, which began in September 1995. He attended court dressed in cowboy attire and made erratic arguments, which led many observers to describe the trial as chaotic and unprofessional. He was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death on September 25, 1995. Panetti's mental health became a central issue in his case, with discussions about his ability to understand the charges and proceedings against him continuing long after the conclusion of his trial.