Teenager accused of murdering parents must undergo mental health tests

Cedar Rapids, Iowa – A judge has ordered that a Cedar Rapids teen accused of killing his parents undergo mental health testing before any court proceedings against him can begin.

According to a court document filed Monday, District Court Judge Ian Thornhill ordered a competency evaluation for Ethan Alexander Orton, 17, after Orton’s defense lawyer provided evidence that he suffered from mental illness.

According to authorities, Orton would be transferred from his Linn County detention center to the Iowa Medical and Classification Center in Coralville for the tests.

In the murders of his parents, Misty Scott Slade, 41, and Casey Orton, 42, at their Cedar Rapids home on Oct. 14, Orton was charged as an adult with two counts of first-degree murder. He has entered a not guilty plea.