photo by: Douglas County Sheriff's Office

Chad Marek

A Lawrence man accused of murdering his wife over two years ago is still not fit to stand trial.

Chad Marek’s defense attorney, John Kerns, told Judge Stacey Donovan at a status conference on Wednesday in Douglas County District Court that Marek was “still getting treatment.”

Marek has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 25-year-old Regan (Gibbs) Marek on May 16, 2022, in the 2500 block of West Sixth Street. Police said at the time that Marek told a dispatcher that God had told him to do it. It’s not clear how Gibbs was killed, as relevant documents in the case, including the autopsy report, have been sealed, but police said that her body had experienced a great deal of physical trauma, as the Journal-World has reported.

After his arrest, Marek spent about 18 months in the Douglas County Jail waiting for a bed at Larned State Hospital. Eventually he was admitted to Larned, and in May Donovan ordered involuntarily commitment proceedings for Marek after reviewing a forensic evaluation report that said he is “unlikely to become competent in the foreseeable future.”

Marek was familiar to many in Lawrence for sharing his religious views downtown, evangelizing with a bullhorn and playing keyboard and guitar. He 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.”

photo by: Contributed

This photo of Regan Gibbs was shared by her family.