Utah judge rules death row inmate Ralph Menzies competent to be executed

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A Utah judge has ruled that death row inmate Ralph Menzies is competent to be executed, despite medical evidence showing he has vascular dementia.

Third District Court Judge Matthew Bates issued the ruling Friday, stating that while Menzies suffers from cognitive decline, he still understands the nature of his punishment and the state’s reasons for carrying it out.

“Although Menzies has shown he has vascular dementia, he has not shown by a preponderance of the evidence that his mental condition prevents him from reaching a rational understanding of his punishment or the State’s reasons for it,” the ruling reads. “Therefore, he has not met his burden to show he is incompetent to be executed.”

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