Dubuque man accused of murder expected to be found competent for trial

Lawyers for a Dubuque man accused of murdering his mother told a judge today that they expect he will be found competent to stand trial. A competency evaluation recently was performed on 28-year-old Tyler Dazey, at the request of his defense team. Dazey is charged in Iowa District Court of Dubuque County with first-degree murder and animal abuse in connection with the death of his mother, 46-year-old Jennifer Dazey. At a hearing this morning, defense attorney Joey Hoover told Iowa District Court Judge Thomas Bitter that an evaluation had been completed and that he expects the independent evaluator to find Dazey competent to stand trial. Bitter set a follow-up hearing for Thursday, Feb. 29, to confirm the report’s findings. Dazey’s jury trial currently is scheduled to begin April 16.