photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Murder defendant Chad Marek is pictured Wednesday, May 21, 2025, after his competency hearing in Douglas County District Court.

A 30-year-old Lawrence man accused of brutally murdering his wife three years ago has once again been declared incompetent to stand trial and has been ordered back to Larned State Hospital for further treatment.

The defendant, Chad Joseph Marek, charged with killing 25-year-old Regan (Gibbs) Marek in May 2022, remained silent Wednesday as Judge Stacey Donovan adopted the findings of the most recent psychological evaluation finding him unfit to stand trial. Though the report itself is confidential, a person is adjudged unfit when he is unable to understand the charges against him or to assist in his own defense.

photo by: Contributed

This photo of Regan Gibbs was shared by her family.

Marek’s attorney, John Kerns, and Douglas County Deputy District Attorney David Greenwald stipulated to the findings of the May 15 psychological evaluation.

When Marek, who is now housed at the Douglas County Jail, will return to Larned is uncertain, as beds at that facility are generally in short supply and defendants typically wait many months, if not years, to be admitted. Marek has been in and out of treatment since his arrest. He spent a year and a half waiting to be admitted to Larned the first time; in January of this year, he was returned to Lawrence, where his competency to stand trial was never established.

Marek sat alone at the defendant’s table Wednesday, looking subdued and disheveled, as his attorney spoke on his behalf via Zoom.

Donovan noted that “this will be a long process,” if past experience with Larned is any indicator. She set Marek’s court date for Oct. 21 and ordered him to appear then, unless he is at Larned by that time.

Police said at the time of Regan’s death that Marek told a dispatcher that God had told him to do it. It’s not clear how Regan 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.

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.”