SAN DIEGO — A San Diego Superior Court judge on Friday found Luis Alvarado mentally competent to stand trial on murder and arson charges stemming from the March 28 fire that killed San Marcos couple Michael and Kathryn Austin.
Around 11:45 p.m. on March 28, first responders found a home engulfed in flames in the 900 block of Lacebark Street, near Fulton Road and Woodland Parkway. When firefighters safely entered the home, they found Michael Austin, 73, and his wife, Kathryn Austin, 72, dead inside, along with their dog.
Alvarado, who was renting a room in the Austins’ home, was arrested the next day.
However, at his April 2 arraignment, the judge granted a defense request to have Alvarado examined to determine whether he could understand the charges against him and stand trial. Over the summer, Alvarado was found incompetent and committed for treatment.
At an Oct. 30 competency hearing in San Diego, the judge found Alvarado able to face the charges. He will return to the Vista Courthouse Nov. 9 to continue his arraignment and enter a plea. He faces two counts of murder, along with charges of arson resulting in great bodily injury and arson of an inhabited structure.
