photo by: Douglas County Sheriff's Office

Chad Marek

A competency evaluation was ordered Tuesday for a man accused of murdering his significant other to determine whether he is fit to stand trial.

Chad Joseph Marek, 27, is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly killing Regan N. Gibbs, 25, on May 16 at their Lawrence apartment. Marek told a 911 dispatcher that God told him to kill her, according to police.

Marek appeared Tuesday before Judge Stacey Donovan via Zoom from the Douglas County Jail. Marek’s defense attorney, John Kerns, had filed a motion for a competency hearing, which Donovan granted.

Marek told Donovan during the proceedings that he wanted to address the court, to which Kerns replied that he preferred that Marek not speak at this time.

Donovan, following Kerns’ wishes, did not allow Marek to speak. She then scheduled Marek’s next court appearance for June 14 — after the competency evaluation will have been completed.

Marek is currently being held at the Douglas County Jail on a $1 million bond.

As previously reported by the Journal-World, Lawrence Police Chief Rich Lockhart said that Marek called 911 to report that he had killed his wife and that “God told him” to do it.

Lockhart said that Regan Gibbs was dead when emergency crews arrived. He said her body had experienced a lot of physical trauma, though an exact cause of death was pending autopsy results.

Regan’s mother, Kristin Gibbs, said during a news conference on May 20 that her daughter and Marek were not legally married. She said the family had met Marek only once and that it was evident from that first meeting that he was controlling and tried to isolate Regan.

photo by: Contributed

This photo of Regan Gibbs was shared by her family.

Regan, originally from Washington state, played soccer at the University of Kansas in 2018-19. Court records indicate that she and Marek filed for a marriage license in November 2021, and Regan’s Facebook page indicated that the couple were married on Nov. 24, 2021.

Chad Marek has been frequently seen in downtown Lawrence evangelizing with a bullhorn. He has posted videos online decrying COVID-19 vaccines as the “spirit of the Anti-Christ” and saying “Wake up Lawrence, they are coming for your children. The LGBTQ agenda is coming for your children.” Kristin Gibbs said Marek tried to control her daughter through religion.