Patrick Henry Doyle

Psychiatrist deems Patrick Doyle competent; trial date established
by Casey Fagan
UHCLIDIAN Staff

Associate professor of psychology Patrick Doyle, Ph.D., will stand trial for the murder of his stepfather April 8 in Bowling Green, Ky.

The court date was set after his competency to stand trial was resolved.

"The Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center did an evaluation test on Patrick Doyle, and they said he was in fact competent to stand trial in court," said Warren County Common-wealth's Attorney Steve Wilson.

Doyle, 59, has been lodged in Warren County Regional Jail since May 9, 2001. The Bowling Green Daily News reported that he called the police to his mother's Bowling Green, Ky., home, telling them he beat his stepfather to death with a hammer.

City police investigators found the body of Robert H. McGown, 79, inside the garage. McGown had multiple blunt force injuries to the head and face.

According to the Bowling Green Police Department, Doyle was unhurt and splattered with blood as he directed the officers to McGown's body.

Edith McGown, Doyle's mother, testified in court two days after the slaying. She said her son had come home for a visit following the spring semester at UH-Clear Lake and saw Robert McGown threatening and intimidating her. She said she lived in constant fear of her controlling husband of 20 years.

Edith McGown was home at the time of the slaying and was also interviewed by detectives, but was not charged.

Doyle has hired Lexington attorney John Kevin West and has filed a motion to have himself appointed as co-counsel in the case.

"The defenses we are looking into consider any physical and mental problems Dr. Doyle may have been experiencing at the time of the incident," West said.

Doyle spent much of June, July and August at the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center in La Grange, where he underwent extensive psychological evaluations. Doyle's treatment and observation remain confidential and have not yet been filed in court.

Bowling Green police officer Barry Raley is the complaining witness, according to Wilson.

Doyle has pleaded innocent, but remains in the Warren County Regional Jail in lieu of a $600,000 bond.

While teaching at UH-Clear Lake, Doyle developed a popular software program called "Bioball." This software, now used in clinical settings for relaxation and stress management, netted more than $1.3 million for Doyle.

Doyle was involved in an intellectual property dispute over his program with the University of Houston System before the incident.

"He handled the negotiations with the university rather awkwardly," said Robert Hodgin, executive director of research administration. "For the time being, we are putting the matter on hold."

Doyle considered developing computer games and software a hobby and not a part of teaching. The university is claiming some rights to the program under the UH System's intellectual property policy.

"Everything is so sticky at this point that I'm tempted to think the university won't ever get to see the money," Hodgin said.

Doyle does not have a criminal history, according to police reports. He was well-liked and respected by his co-workers, but no one contacted was willing to comment.

Doyle, who is officially on a leave of absence from the university, taught courses in stress management, clinical psychology and clinical practicum.