Judge Orders Carjacking Defendant Transferred to Saint Elizabeths for Mental Health Treatment

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DC Superior Court Judge Heidi Pasichow granted a request to send a carjacking defendant to Saint Elizabeths Hospital for mental health treatment based on a report by the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) in a July 16 hearing.

Kayla Brown, 22, is charged with unarmed carjacking for an incident that occurred on June 3 at Washington Hospital Center on the 100 block of Irving Street, NW. Brown allegedly stole a motor vehicle from a woman whose mother, 55-year-old Leslie Gaines, was still inside the car.

The DBH report declared Brown mentally incompetent to stand trial in that she’s unable to understand the charges against her and participate in her own defense.

According to court documents, officers chased down the stolen vehicle, which crashed into the US Attorney’s Office on the 600 block of D Street, NW. Gaines was found in the car, unresponsive. She succumbed to her injuries at a hospital.

During the hearing, Sylvia Smith, Brown’s defense attorney, argued that Brown be released or be moved to St. Elizabeths Hospital because of the incompetency finding.

Judge Pasichow granted the request, stating that “[Brown’s] time is better spent in the hospital right now so that the doctors can further observe her.”

Parties are slated to return on Aug. 16.