Leavenworth ? A hearing scheduled Thursday for a man charged with murdering his son did not take place because the suspect is still undergoing a mental exam.

In addition, the judge hearing the case did not appear because he apparently was attending to another matter and was not in his office.

Last month, Leavenworth County Judge Frederick Stewart ordered suspect Raymond Boothe, 34, Cameron, Mo., to have a mental evaluation at Larned State Hospital.

Boothe is charged with first-degree murder in the death of his son, Levi Boothe, 11. The elder Boothe allegedly stabbed the boy the night of Aug. 27 and left him to die along the westbound lanes of Interstate 70 in Leavenworth County.

An autopsy report said Levi Boothe actually died from multiple blunt trauma, possibly caused from being struck by vehicles, County Atty. Frank Kohl said.

The boy had numerous other wounds as well, Kohl said. The stab wounds may have been caused by needle-nose pliers. Despite searches along I-70, no pliers have been recovered.

“It’s like looking for the needle in the haystack,” Kohl said.

Stewart probably will set a new date for a hearing next month, Kohl said. He said an assistant in Stewart’s office said the judge wasn’t expected in his office, at least during the morning Thursday.

Raymond Boothe’s Leavenworth attorney, Gary Fuller, also did not appear for the hearing.

About three hours after Levi Boothe’s body was found by Leavenworth County Sheriff’s officers, Lawrence Police arrested Raymond Boothe. Police say Boothe drove to Lawrence and wrecked his car in an effort to kill himself and three other children, girls age 6 and 9, and a boy, age 7. They were not seriously injured.

No charges have been filed in the Lawrence incident.

¢ 6News video: Raymond Boothe is undergoing psychiatric evaluation¢ Raymond Boothe barely recognizable to family (09-05-02)¢ Surviving children remember leaving brother (09-05-02)¢ Mother buries slain 11-year-old (09-02-02)¢ Boy found dead on I-70; father jailed as suspect (8-29-02)¢ Despite disabilities, boy ‘just regular 11-year-old’ (8-29-02)¢ Tragedy befalls ‘nice family,’ ‘sweet kids’ (8-29-02) Video:¢ 6News video: Raymond Boothe has been jailed for the suspected murder of his child (8-29-02)¢ 6News video report: Douglas County SRS takes custody of Boothe children (8-30-02)¢ 6News video report: B Surviving children remember leaving brother oothe charged with first-degree murder, will undergo mental evaluation (8-30-02)¢ 6News video report: Funeral services set for murdered 11-year-old (8-31-02)