LARNED – With less than two-and-half weeks before his murder trial was scheduled to commence in Pawnee County District Court, the man accused in the March 2024 shooting death of a Larned State Hospital clinician has been ordered to undergo competency restoration treatment at a state mental health facility for a maximum of 90 days.
According to a late Thursday news release by Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett, Michael E.G. Reynolds, 69, of Larned appeared before Senior District Judge Nancy Parrish by teleconference earlier that day for a competency ruling.
The hearing included testimony by a court-assigned forensic evaluator as well as statements by both prosecution and defense counsel.
Based on the testimony given, Judge Parrish found Reynolds not competent to stand trial and ordered he be committed to the Secretary of the Kansas Department of Aging and Disabilities Services, which oversees the state’s mental health hospitals.
The judge’s ruling stays the upcoming five-day trial scheduled to begin on Monday, Feb. 23. The duration of the stay is dependent upon the court’s subsequent finding that the defendant has regained competency.
Incompetent to stand trial, according to Kansas law, means that because of a mental defect, a person charged with a crime is unable to understand the nature and purpose of the court proceedings, or unable to make or assist in making a defense in court.
McNett anticipates that, rather than the State Security Hospital on the LSH campus, Reynolds will be transferred to Osawatomie State Hospital for the court-ordered treatment.
Following the hearing, Judge Parrish denied Reynolds’ request for reduced bond, finding Reynolds currently poses a danger to himself or others if released. Reynolds remains in the custody of the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office pending transfer to a psychiatric facility.
Case history
Reynolds is charged with intentional murder in the second degree as well as aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and criminal possession of a firearm. The charges stem from a joint investigation by the PCSO, Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Pawnee County Coroner Dr. Lyle Noordhoek, into the March 30, 2024, shooting death of Dr. Thomas Garza at a rural warehouse south of Larned.
Reynolds was taken into custody at the scene and was initially held without bond on a ruling by Magistrate Julie Cowell due to community safety concerns. A bond of $250,000 was later set. Except for an instance of temporary prisoner transfer to Barton County, Reynolds has been in PCSO custody since that time.
The Great Bend Tribune has learned that Reynolds was recently placed on constant observation for a recent attempt at self-harm while in PCSO custody, prior to Thursday’s competency re-evaluation.
The case has been marked by delays in court appearances and request motions by various defense attorneys since Senior Judge Parrish’s appointment to preside. In May of 2024, 24th District Judge Bruce Gatterman announced his recusal from the case and Senior Judge Parrish was appointed. On May 28, 2025, Judge Parrish found Reynolds competent to stand trial and a preliminary hearing was rescheduled for September.
Platte City, Mo. attorney David McDonald, as current defense counsel, is Reynolds’ fifth defense attorney since the case was brought.
