DETROIT — A northern Michigan accused of stabbing 11 people at a Traverse City-area Walmart last month was declared mentally incompetent to stand trial during a court hearing Friday.

Bradford Gille has pleaded not guilty to one count of terrorism and 11 counts of assault with intent to murder. At the end of July, Judge Michael Stepka with Traverse City's 81st District Court increased Gille's bond from $100,000 to $1 million, essentially ensuring he would remain in jail while his case proceeds.

A defense attorney for Gille requested a competence evaluation in that previous hearing. Competence refers to an examination of whether a defendant has the mental capacity to rationally understand the charges against them and participate in their own defense.

Jay Witherell, a forensic psychologist and the director of evaluation services at the Michigan Center for Forensic Psychiatry, said that while Gille, who has a long history of mental health issues, seemed to understand factually how court proceedings work and what it means to be a criminal defendant, his perception of his own case seemed "odd" and "delusional."

"He did have that factual piece; he understood basic-level concepts of how court works, but when he applied it to his own personal case and what he expected to have happen, it was very illogical," Witherell said.

He said he met with Gille for about two hours on Aug. 11 at the forensic center, during which he said the man was cooperative and polite and opined Gille has schizophrenia. Among his "delusions," Witherell said: beliefs that the forensic center is a death camp, and pleading not guilty by reason of insanity would lead to his death.

During questioning by Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg and Gille's defense attorney Jacob Graff, Witherell said his opinion is that Gille is not currently fit to stand trial, but he believes Gille could be restored to competence through further treatment.

Gille has struggled with serious mental health issues for decades, according to family members. He was charged in 2016 with disinterring and mutilating dead bodies and destroying tombs, after being accused of using a shovel and sledgehammer to break into a grave at Greenwood Cemetery in Petoskey — because he believed his father, who was alive, was buried there, Gille's brother has said.

Emmet County Sheriff’s deputies had searched for Gille since the day before the July 26 attack, armed with a court order following encounters he had with Petoskey police that made them concerned for his mental health. Petoskey officials had obtained a court order to have Gille placed in protective custody and undergo an evaluation.

Moeggenberg asked Stepka to declare Gille incompetent based on Witherell's testimony.

"It's clear that he understands the nature of the proceedings," she said. "But obviously his delusional beliefs based on that stem from his mental health issues at this time prohibit him from assisting in his defense."

Stepka agreed with Moeggenberg's request, and ordered Gille to continue cooperating with treatment at the forensic center.

"I will find that, at this time based on the testimony of Dr. Witherell, the defendant is incompetent to stand trial," he said.

Gille's defense attorney, Jacob Graff, said he trusted Stepka's discretion, but added he didn't intend to waive the right to request a second independent competence exam should one be warranted.

"I believe the court is very aware of the standards of competency and the fact that he is assumed competent until ruled otherwise. I won't beleagure the court with argument. ... I trust Your Honor's judgment."

©2025 www.detroitnews.com. Visit at detroitnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.