ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County Circuit Judge Renee Roche ruled Wednesday that a man accused of killing his roommate inside their Orange County home is competent to stand trial.
Roche had ordered Bryan Santana to undergo two mental evaluations after authorities said he smeared feces on himself and on the walls of a holding cell on Tuesday.
Santana is accused of stabbing and strangling Shelby Fazio, 23, in October 2014 and also killing her dog in the home they shared on John Street. He also is accused of defiling her body.
Channel 9's Shannon Butler is in court, where Santana was placed in a shock belt and leg shackles.
Photos: Woman found dead in John Street home
During opening statements Wednesday, the defense offered an explanation for the crime, saying Santana had been trying to get help for his "issues."
The prosecution's key witness, a third roommate who said he went to check on Fazio, took the stand and said he was almost killed by Santana.
"He pulled out a knife and pepper spray and sprayed me in the face," roommate John Heermance said. "There was already blood on the knife when he attacked me."
Prosecutors presented the knife that they said was used to kill Fazio.
Prosecutors said Santana simply preyed on a nice girl.
"The defendant made every parent's worst, absolute worst nightmare come true," said prosecutor Mark Interlicchio. "She begs for her life and he tells her, 'If you don't stop, I will make you suffer,' and he does."
Prosecutors said she was then stabbed to death.
Family members couldn't watch as pictures of Fazio's injuries and the bloody home were shown to the jury. They were told that she had a belt tied around her neck and that she briefly lost consciousness.
Jurors also saw an image of a message Santana that allegedly wrote on the wall in blood, which said he was not sorry for what he did.
Jurors paid close attention as the crime was being described, but the evidence was stomach turning, Butler said.
The defense did not dispute the actions of their client but instead tried to set the stage for a man who reached out for help but couldn't get it.
"Mr. Santana needed help but no one would do it. No one would help prevent this from happening," said public defender Javier Chavez.
Santana claims that he has an alternate personality. A psychologist said Santana tried to fictionalize his alter ego, calling him Michael.
Santana claimed that Michael was the killer, but the judge dismissed that claim and said the trial would continue.
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