A man accused of murdering his much-older socialite wife in their Georgetown home has been diagnosed with a delusional disorder and a personality disorder, according to a mental health report filed Monday.
Albrecht Muth, 47, is charged with first-degree murder with aggravating circumstances in the August death of his wife, 91-year-old Viola Drath. He is scheduled to be in D.C. Superior Court on Wednesday morning for a mental observation hearing.
Muth has been at St. Elizabeths since Feb. 15. A report filed in March requested additional testing to clarify his diagnosis and explore the possibility that he has been feigning illness.
In the new report, Muth was found not to be faking any problems on a memory-related test. His results on one personality test were invalid, but his results on a second test were valid and found Muth responded in a manner that is similar to the styles of those who are “likely delusional and may demonstrate irrational thinking.”
Mental health professionals determined that Muth is currently incompetent to stand trial but could become competent or make progress. Muth maintains in the report filed Monday that his wife’s death occurred “as a result of a hit by the Iranian goverment” because of his work as a member of the Iraqi Army.
Previously, Muth has requested to wear an Iraqi military uniform in his trial, although the Iraqi Embassy has said he was never in its army.
The report also said that Muth is frustrated with his lawyers because they have not contacted people including the National Security Advisor to the Vice President, Gen. David Petraeus and Iraqi government officials. In the past, Muth has expressed an interest in acting as his own attorney in the case.
A test administered last week found there to be a 99.9 percent chance that Muth has a lowered ability to rationally consult with his lawyers.
The mental health professionals suggest Muth continue to remain hospitalized and receive medication.
