Delay in Sentencing in Glover Case

WOODBRIDGE, Va. - She's in jail for killing her own daughter-- a 13-year-old with autism. Now, there's a delay in the case.

On Thursday, a judge agreed to have a doctor evaluate the mental health of Freeda Glover. She's already been found competent to stand trial. In fact, she was about to be sentenced in Prince William County Cou

There was only one witness at Thursday's hearing-- a nurse at the jail where Glover is being held. Nurse Eleanor Heath told the judge that she would "strongly suggest" that Glover have a mental health evaluation. Heath testified that Glover stopped taking her anti-depressants after just six days telling the staff-- they didn't work for my child, so why would they work for me.

Last January, Glover reported her 13-year-old daughter missing and two days later, Lexie's body was found in an icy Woodbridge creek. Glover was found competent to stand trial and in July pleaded guilty to felony murder.

Heath said the jail staff has been concerned about Glover "not coming out of her cell. There's been some question about whether she's been eating. We've been weighing her. I learned she lost two pounds in four days."

Commonwealth's Attorney Paul Ebert tells Fox5 that he does not think Glover has a mental health issue.

"She's a little different. She's withdrawn. She's very much like the people on death row. They're pretty resigned to what may happen to them and they don't cooperate with the so-called authorities," said Ebert.

But the judge granted the request of Glover's lawyer to have her evaluated. If she is found to be mentally ill she could be sent to a hospital for treatment. That could delay her sentencing indefinitely.

"It's a disappointment, but things like this happen in a court of law and everybody wants to make sure that you're competent when you go to court and competent when you receive the punishment," said Ebert.
A doctor will now have 30 days to spend some time with Glover. The doctor will evaluate her mental health and write a report for the judge.