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An 80-year-old Calvert County man awaiting trial on charges of shooting his wife died last week in a Baltimore hospital from an infection, his wife said Tuesday.
James H. Clark, of Dowell, died July 17 at St. Agnes Hospital after suffering a series of seizures and internal bleeding, said his wife, Mable Clark, who has recovered from her own injuries.
"He had an infection that had run all over his body," his wife of 52 years said. "He had a little bit of everything" before he died.
Clark had been found not competent to stand trial last month and was undergoing medical and psychiatric treatment at several hospitals, according to court records. He was charged in January with attempted first-degree murder for allegedly shooting Mable Clark, 81, four times in their home on Jan. 8, according to court records.
Authorities alleged in court records and interviews that Clark shot his wife because he thought she was unfaithful. He then refused to come out of his house for six hours. Calvert County sheriff's deputies and Maryland State Police surrounded the house and eventually arrested Clark without more violence.
Clark's attorney, public defender Sheila J. Sullivan, argued that he was "not criminally responsible" -- the equivalent in Maryland law of an insanity plea. State doctors agreed last month, saying he was unfit for trial and concluding he suffered from a host of ailments, including psychotic dementia and antisocial personality disorder. His family said he was also diabetic.
"As far as [doctors] said, he was not in his right mind," Mable Clark said of the shooting.
Clark was being held in the secure medical psychiatric unit of Spring Grove Hospital in Catonsville, Md., according to court records. He was supposed to stay there until treatment improved his condition enough that he could stand trial, said Laura L. Martin, Calvert County deputy state's attorney.
This month, Clark was transferred to St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore after suffering a series of medical setbacks, his wife said.
Martin and Sullivan were unaware of his death until a reporter inquired about it Tuesday. The last filing in his court record was a sealed psychiatric report on July 9.
The criminal case against Clark will not be closed officially until Sullivan files a formal motion asking that the charges be dropped because of Clark's death. Sullivan declined to comment.
"He's in God's hands now," Mable Clark said.
James H. Clark, of Dowell, died July 17 at St. Agnes Hospital after suffering a series of seizures and internal bleeding, said his wife, Mable Clark, who has recovered from her own injuries.
"He had an infection that had run all over his body," his wife of 52 years said. "He had a little bit of everything" before he died.
Clark had been found not competent to stand trial last month and was undergoing medical and psychiatric treatment at several hospitals, according to court records. He was charged in January with attempted first-degree murder for allegedly shooting Mable Clark, 81, four times in their home on Jan. 8, according to court records.
Authorities alleged in court records and interviews that Clark shot his wife because he thought she was unfaithful. He then refused to come out of his house for six hours. Calvert County sheriff's deputies and Maryland State Police surrounded the house and eventually arrested Clark without more violence.
Clark's attorney, public defender Sheila J. Sullivan, argued that he was "not criminally responsible" -- the equivalent in Maryland law of an insanity plea. State doctors agreed last month, saying he was unfit for trial and concluding he suffered from a host of ailments, including psychotic dementia and antisocial personality disorder. His family said he was also diabetic.
"As far as [doctors] said, he was not in his right mind," Mable Clark said of the shooting.
Clark was being held in the secure medical psychiatric unit of Spring Grove Hospital in Catonsville, Md., according to court records. He was supposed to stay there until treatment improved his condition enough that he could stand trial, said Laura L. Martin, Calvert County deputy state's attorney.
This month, Clark was transferred to St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore after suffering a series of medical setbacks, his wife said.
Martin and Sullivan were unaware of his death until a reporter inquired about it Tuesday. The last filing in his court record was a sealed psychiatric report on July 9.
The criminal case against Clark will not be closed officially until Sullivan files a formal motion asking that the charges be dropped because of Clark's death. Sullivan declined to comment.
"He's in God's hands now," Mable Clark said.
