Dakota Sweeney, the cousin of Summer House star West Wilson, should be evaluated for possible treatment at a mental health facility after he was charged with murdering his grandmother, his lawyer claims.
Earlier this month, Sweeney’s legal rep filed paperwork in Carroll County, Missouri, to amend an earlier request for a medical professional to perform a mental health evaluation, according to court documents obtained by Us Weekly on Tuesday, June 30.
In the original motion — first filed and approved in May — the attorney asked that a medical professional evaluate Sweeney to see whether he lacked the ability to understand proceedings and whether he understood “the nature, quality and wrongness” of the crime he allegedly committed. Now, in the amended motion filed on June 3, Sweeney’s lawyer has also requested that the medical professional evaluate whether Sweeney should undergo treatment at a hospital regardless of whether or not he is found fit to stand trial.
The state had no objections to the amended request. A judge approved the new motion.
Sweeney, 28, was arrested on April 22 for murder in the first degree and armed criminal action, according to a probable cause statement obtained by Us on April 29. Sweeney and his grandfather, Roger, were allegedly present when his grandmother, Gayle, was murdered, with Roger claiming that Sweeney shot Gayle with a handgun “without warning.”
“According to [the] witness, earlier in the evening, Sweeney and [the] victim had been in a disagreement about Sweeney not assisting with chores around the residence,” the police report read.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol is treating the incident as a potential homicide.
In a statement shared the next day, authorities noted, “These charges are a mere accusation and not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of these charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.”
Sweeney is being held without bail at the Caldwell County Jail. Us reached out to Sweeney’s public defender for comment following his arrest.
In 911 audio obtained by TMZ after the incident, a first responder could be heard saying, “Possible shooting, stand by. What we’re hearing is that it’s possible [the] subject shot his mother-in-law. … We do not know, we were on the phone with a third person who was not there, and he disconnected the call.”
West, 31, and Sweeney are two of Gayle’s seven grandchildren. She was 75.
“Gayle lived a life marked by creativity, kindness and cherished moments. She was more than her job titles; Gayle was an artist at heart,” an obituary reads. “Known for her quilting every Thursday with her church friends, Gayle was accomplished in sewing, embroidery, and even the delicate art of stained glass, with pieces featured in a Nevada casino. Her talents extended to photography and rendering stunning images in charcoal and pencil.”
