(AP) -- A judge has ruled that a man accused of killing five members of his family is not competent to stand trial.
Michael Anthony Simmons is accused of shooting and killing his wife and four of her children in October 2006 inside their North Charleston mobile home. The children were between 6 and 16 years old.
The Post and Courier of Charleston reports that Circuit Judge Kristi Harrington made the ruling during a hearing Friday morning. Charleston County prosecutors say they will now begin civil commitment proceedings to have Simmons held indefinitely in a secure psychiatric facility.
Prosecutor Bruce Durant says mental health tests have shown Simmons suffers from dementia.
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