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A district court judge has ruled Dallas Raymond Evenstad to be incompetent to stand trial.  He was facing trial on first degree murder charges in the death of one person, and serious injury sustained by another, both of whom were set on fire June 4, 2023 inside their Fish Lake Township residence.

The Chisago County Attorney’s office is in the process of petitioning for commitment.  

Evenstad, photo below,  is held on $2 million bond after being arrested in Crosby, Minnesota, soon after the Fish Lake incident in June. 

He was initially charged with second degree murder allegedly setting two people on fire throwing gasoline on them as they slept.  One of the victims told investigators Evenstad was the suspect.   

A grand jury about three months later indicted Evenstad on first degree murder-premeditated, two counts of second degree unintentional murder and First Degree assault-great bodily harm.

Evenstad, 35, has undergone mental competency evaluations by two court appointed doctors, in September and in December, and Judge Dowdal ordered to delay the process after she reviewed the findings in a hearing December 14.

Chisago County Attorney Janet Reiter said the prosecution petitions for a civil commitment. The goal is to bring Evenstad to a point that his competency is restored sufficiently to participate in his defense.  The court set a June 18, 2024 review hearing date at which Evenstad’s progress will be assessed.

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