Mental evaluation ordered for man accused in mother’s death

FORT PAYNE, Ala. (AP) – A northeast Alabama judge has ordered a mental evaluation for a man accused of beating his mother to death during an argument over his grades.

DeKalb County Circuit Court Judge Steven Whitmire filed an order Monday requesting an evaluation for 22-year old Tyler Ryan Blansit of Mentone to determine his mental state at the time of his mother’s death, his ability to help his defense attorneys and more.

Blansit was studying biology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and is charged with murder in the death of 45-year-old Sherry Ann Blansit.

Sheriff Jimmy Harris has said Blansit confessed his mother’s death and told investigators they were arguing over his grades when he struck her in the head with a baseball bat. The woman’s body was found in her yard.