Piru Man Accused Of Father's Murder May Not Be Competent To Face Charges

Monday June 13, 2022

    Updated--The defense attorney for 25-year-old Daniel Drum of Piru has told the court there is a doubt about his client’s ability to understand the charges against him and to aid in his defense.

     Drum is charged with murder in the death of his father in Piru in April.

     The criminal proceedings against Drum have now been suspended and a hearing was scheduled for next month on the issue of his mental competency.

     Drum has a history of mental illness and when he disappeared last April the authorities alerted the public that he was missing and there was concern about his mental state.

     The authorities say later that night, Drum is alleged to have returned home and became involved in an altercation with his 62-year-old father and killed him.

     That prompted a second search that ended when Drum was found hiding under an abandoned home elsewhere in Piru and was taken into custody without further incident.