Dr. Stephen Wolf kills 9 year old son, Tommy/ Stephen Wolf was found not guilty of murder and assault by reason of insanity/ Mother sues

I just saw this on CNN. Not sure if anyone has said anything about it yet or not....

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A doctor in suburban Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was arrested Monday and accused in the early morning death of his 9-year-old son, police said.

Dr. Stephen Wolf, 51, faces first-degree murder charges, said Nichols Hills, Oklahoma, Police Chief Richard Mask.

Third-grader Tommy Wolf was dead when authorities arrived at the family's home about 4 a.m. CT in response to several 911 calls, Mask said.

"It was obvious there had been some type of altercation" when police arrived, Mask said. Arriving officers disarmed Wolf, he said, but did not elaborate except to say a knife was found at the home.

Although the investigation is still under way, authorities believe the altercation may have begun in the boy's room "and proceeded from there" to other rooms, Mask said.

Mary Wolf, Stephen Wolf's wife and the boy's mother, suffered defensive puncture wounds to her hands and a wound to her mouth, and was being treated at a hospital, Mask said. Authorities believe she attempted to "intercede and protect her child," he said. Her wounds were not considered life-threatening.

The first 911 call came in at 3:53 a.m., from the Wolf family's next-door neighbor. Mary Wolf had run to the house for help, and the resident reported someone was knocking on the door, Mask said.



Mary Wolf made the second call, but hung up, possibly because she was defending herself, he said. She also made the third call, after police had arrived. Mask said tapes of the 911 calls would be released later.

"We are trying to put all the facts together," Mask said. The boy's death, he said, had had a "devastating" effect on Nichols Hills, a small town about 15 miles northwest of Oklahoma City. "It's had a huge impact," he said.

Officials at the boy's school, Christ the King Catholic School, said teachers and students had been made aware of his death, CNN affiliate KOCO reported.

Stephen Wolf is listed as an internist in Oklahoma City. In his booking photo, on the Oklahoma County sheriff's Web site, a wound can be seen on his head.

My god. I have an 8 year old son in the third grade. What is wrong with people??

If you click on that link on the first post, there is also video of the arrest. This is just horrific. And he is a doctor?

THIS just breaks my heart as I have an 8 yr. old in 2nd grade cause he has a late birthday!! OMG, how horrific, what this mother went through, is beyond words at this point!!! thanks abck2006 for the post, as depressing as it may be... this is the world we are living in

A 9-year-old boy stabbed to death by his physician father early Monday was initially asleep at the time of the attack, Nichols Hills police believe.

Dr. Stephen P. Wolf has been on suicide watch at the Oklahoma County Jail, accused in the stabbing death of his son, Tommy. Formal charges have not been filed yet against the Nichols Hills resident.

Nichols Hills Police Chief Richard Mask told Eyewitness News 5 on Thursday afternoon that there were no obvious indications of alcohol or non-prescription drug abuse.

"I can't tell you at this point that it doesn't or didn't exist, but we have no reason to believe it had anything to do with what happened," Mask said.

Mask said investigators are looking into prescription medication.

"That's all I can tell you," he said.

In terms of a possible motive in the boy's slaying, police said they are not sure what it might have been.

"There doesn't necessarily have to be a motive in all cases, and that very well may be what the situation is here," Mask said.

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A state psychologist says Stephen Wolf is competent to stand trial for killing his young son.
Although the Nichols Hills doctor has reportedly been hallucinating since his arrest.
Wolf is charged with first degree murder for stabbing his nine-year-old son Tommy to death.
A report says he understands the charges against him, but must continue receiving treatment to remain competent.
It also says Wolf hallucinated about seeing his dead son and about seeing a little devil.

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A Nichols Hills doctor accused of murder is found competent to stand trial. During an afternoon hearing, a district judge ruled that despite an ongoing battle with mental illness, Dr. Stephen Wolf understands the charges against him and is able to assist in his defense.

Dr. Wolf is accused of stabbing his 9-year-old son Tommy to death inside the family home in November.

The ruling follows a 10-page report by a state psychologist which detailed in part, "Mr. Wolf evidenced no mental status impairment and has the cognitive abilities to participate in legal proceedings."

The report also detailed how Dr. Wolf experienced auditory hallucinations dating back to 1984.

In addition, Wolf has long suffered paranoid and delusional beliefs he was "evil" and "the devil."

According to the report, Dr. Wolf was not consistent in taking his medications prior to the killing.

Former federal prosecutor Robert McCampbell isn't involved in the case, yet he's not surprised by the judge's decision.

McCampbell believes the tougher legal fight will come during trial when the focus falls on Wolf's sanity the night of the murder.

"It's much more often the real question is the issue of was he insane under the law at the time the crime was committed," said McCampbell.

Wolf's attorney didn't want to comment on the case.

Wolf remains behind bars in the Oklahoma County jail.

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Murder case resumes against Nichols Hills physician
Courts: psychologist says that father may wail during trial in 9-year-old’s death

Dr. Stephen Paul Wolf stayed composed, though, when the 5-minute hearing began. He answered the judge’s questions in a soft voice. He said he was willing and able to work with his attorney.
Oklahoma County District Judge Don Deason ordered criminal proceedings against the doctor to resume. The judge acted because a state psychologist reported Jan. 7 the doctor is mentally competent. Wolf’s attorney did not contest the findings.
The murder case had been on hold since Dec. 18 so the doctor could be evaluated.
Wolf, 51, was arrested Nov. 16 after a police officer found him straddling his stabbed son in the kitchen of their home, according to a police affidavit. He repeatedly told the police officer, "He’s got the devil in him and you know it,” according to the affidavit.
Wolf’s son, Tommy, 9, died from multiple stab wounds. His wife, Mary Wolf, suffered cuts to her hands and face when she intervened. Stephen Wolf is charged with first-degree murder in his son’s death and assault and battery with a deadly weapon in his wife’s injuries.
Psychologist Shawn Roberson examined Wolf in the jail for two hours Jan. 6 because of concerns about his mental competency to face prosecution.
"Mr. Wolf can appreciate the nature of the charges against him and consult with his attorney to rationally assist in his defense,” the psychologist wrote in the report.
"Based upon his ongoing depression and history of psychotic symptoms in recent months, it is very important that he continues to receive treatment if his competency for adjudication is to remain intact.”
The psychologist noted Wolf talked of having hallucinations since his arrest involving his dead son and about a "little devil.” The psychologist wrote, "Currently, he is receiving psychotropic medication and he no longer evidences psychotic symptoms.”
The psychologist warned Wolf may wail at times in court because of his depression over his son’s death.
During the hearing Tuesday, the judge questioned Wolf about medications he is taking in jail for his mental condition and for low blood pressure.
Wolf identified the medications.
He told the judge if he rises quickly, he is weak from his blood pressure problems.
"Just in this brief conversation, it appears to me that Dr. Wolf is competent,” the judge said.
Trial date could be set
Wolf is expected to use an insanity defense. Next up in his case is a conference Monday. At the conference a preliminary hearing judge could set a date to hear evidence in the case. At a preliminary hearing, the judge decides whether the evidence is sufficient for a trial.
Wolf on Tuesday looked noticeably thinner than when he was last in court Dec. 18. He told the psychologist he has lost 20 pounds since his arrest.
Wolf has suffered from mental problems since 1984 when he was first hospitalized for treatment, records show.

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Offender Record
Offender ID: 200277841
Offender Name: STEPHEN PAUL WOLF
Date of Birth: 10/12/1958
Age: 51
Custody Status: In Custody
Location of Offender: Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office
Race: White
Gender: Male

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Hmmm...from reading this it appears he suffers from schizophrenia, so IMO, is he competent to stand trial? Not an excuse, but he clearly demonstrated psychotic behavior. And, it dated back to the 1980's.

An Oklahoma County judge has scheduled a June 6 trial for a doctor accused of fatally stabbing his son.
District Judge Don Deason on Tuesday set the trial for next year so prosecutors will have time to get a mental-health expert to examine 51-year-old Stephen Wolf.
Prosecutors have charged Wolf with first-degree murder in the Nov. 16 stabbing death of 9-year-old Tommy Wolf.
Police arrested Wolf after finding him with his son in the kitchen of the family's home in Nichols Hill, Okla. Police say two knives were sticking out of Tommy's chest.
Stephen Wolf's attorney, Mack Martin, was ordered to turn over a defense expert's report to prosecutors by Sept. 15.

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The wife of a Nichols Hills doctor who fatally stabbed their son is alleging in a wrongful-death lawsuit that others share blame for the tragedy.

Mary Wolf is suing her husband, Stephen Paul Wolf; his brother; his brother's wife; his stepfather; his employer; and a psychiatrist.

"Several individuals had an opportunity to intervene after it was apparent Stephen Wolf was a danger to himself and others. Those individuals did nothing," her attorney, Steven Horton, wrote in court papers.

Stephen Wolf stabbed his son, Tommy, at their $500,000 home shortly before 4 a.m. Nov. 16, 2009. He repeatedly told the Nichols Hills police officer who broke up the attack, "He's got the devil in him," according to a police affidavit. Tommy was 9.

Mary Wolf suffered cuts to her hands and face.

In June, Stephen Wolf was found not guilty of murder and assault by reason of insanity. He is being treated at a state mental facility in Vinita. He is 52.

Wolf's wife filed a lawsuit against him in March 2010. A few months later, she asked for legal filings in the lawsuit to be kept confidential. A judge agreed.

While the case was secret, Mary Wolf expanded it to include the other defendants. The latest judge overseeing the case made it public again Friday at the wife's request.

New as defendants in the case are Stephen Wolf's brother, Dr. Thomas Wolf; his brother's wife, Judy Wolf; his stepfather, Dr. Thomas Nix; and a psychiatrist, Surinder Randhawa.

Mary Wolf also is suing her husband's employer, Saints Medical Group.

Those new defendants have denied any negligence on their parts.

She says in the lawsuit that her husband went to stay first with his brother and sister-in-law a few days before the killing.

He then went to his stepfather's house. She picked him up the evening of Nov. 15, 2010.

She alleges in the lawsuit that her husband's brother and stepfather, who are both physicians, were aware he was homicidal and suicidal on those days and should have had him hospitalized.

Stephen Wolf has said he spent time away from home to stay away from his wife and son "as he could tell his mental state was deteriorating," according to a report in his criminal case. He has suffered from mental problems since medical school.

Mary Wolf claims she was never told the complete history of his mental treatment. She alleges his family "went to great lengths" to cover it up.

Mary Wolf alleges the psychiatrist, Randhawa, also was negligent for not hospitalizing her husband. She said her husband's brother called Randhawa on Nov. 13, 2009, but the psychiatrist failed to even speak to her husband in order to fully assess his condition.

She claims her husband had been self-medicating before the killing by taking samples of the anti-smoking drug Chantix. She alleges the drug "is known to cause homicidal behavior in individuals with a history of mental health disorders."

She said her husband should have known the risks. She also blames his employer, saying there was lax control over pharmaceuticals at the hospital where he worked.

She is not suing the maker of Chantix. The company warns potential users to "tell your doctor about any history of depression or other mental health problems" before taking the drug as these symptoms may worsen while taking it.

She filed for divorce June 8, after her husband was found not guilty. The divorce case is pending.

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