Young called himself “Jesus Incarnate”

9:52 p.m.

By Candice Nelson
WSLS Reporter

By the time Jeffrey Young was escorted out of the Floyd County Courthouse on Tuesday, he already heard several opinions on his mental health by professionals who took the stand. Prosecution called two witnesses to prove Young is not insane.

One forensic psychologist met Young in March. She said when she first met him, he came across as charming. After she asked him several questions, she said he asked, “Aren’t you afraid of me?”

She went on to say Young wouldn’t answer her questions which prevented her from a good analysis of his mental status.

One story she told included a so-called “magical stick,” which she said was used in the beating at Slaughter’s Supermarket. According to witness testimony, Young heard voices telling him to go out and fight people, but since he dropped the stick beforehand, it lost its “magical powers” and he backed off.  When the psychologist asked how Young could have used the stick later at Slaughter’s Supermarket since it lost the power, she said Young responded with “Good question.”

The point of the story was to tell how Young’s way of thinking is contrary to those who have fixed delusions.

Another witness called by prosecution was a psychotherapist who was called to the regional jail after jail officials were concerned Young was trying to starve himself to death. According to testimony, the therapist said Young explained he could come up with more creative ways to kill himself rather than starving.

Now, both sides have the job of continuing their arguments and rebuttal before the case is given to the jury.

Testimony will continue on Wednesday at 9 a.m.

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8:20 p.m.

By Scott Leamon
WSLS Reporter

  Jeffrey Young’s defense team provided a detailed history of his decade long bout with mental illness at his trial in Floyd County.

  Diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic, the prosecution and defense explored why he refuses to take medication to control his symptoms and does not follow treatment programs.

  Young, an Eagle Scout and three time Roanoke city chess champion, graduated from Patrick Henry High School in 1995.

  An “A” to “B” student according to his mother, he went on to Queens College in Charlotte, North Carolina.

  Young’s symptoms didn’t start to develop until his early 20s, typical for schizophrenia, a psychiatrist for the defense testified.

  Young also has a cousin diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic, which suggests his illness could be hereditary, the psychiatrist said.

  A car accident on his 21st birthday seemed to be the breaking point, his mother said.

  Roberta Young said her son was never the same again.

  Several months later he started claiming to be Jesus, calling himself “Jesus Incarnate.“

  Roberta Young said her son even amassed several followers, friends who claimed Jeff Young was Jesus himself.

  Starting in 1998, Jeffrey Young was committed to mental hospitals six times over the next decade.

  Roberta Young said around 2007, her son started complaining about voices he was hearing telling him not to eat.

  The defense psychiatrist, whom worked for the commonwealth in 2008, said Young complained about hearing those voices shortly before the attack on Ciera Sowers, but declined to provide any context or detail.

  As late as September of 2008, a state counselor visited Young in jail after complaints he refused to eat.

  The counselor convinced Young to feed on “fresh fruits and vegetables.“

  While the defense psychiatrist found Young insane and could not tell right from wrong when he was accused of assaulting Sowers, a forensic psychologist for the commonwealth found almost the opposite.

  The psychologist found, while Young may be insane, he could still legally tell right from wrong as he was alleged to have been committing the crimes.

  The psychologist found Young’s request to his mother to go back and recover evidence as a possible attempt to hide it from police.

  Testimony will continue tomorrow at 9 AM inside Floyd County circuit court. 

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1:19 p.m.

By Scott Leamon
WSLS Reporter

    The trial of Jeffrey Young got underway Tuesday morning in Floyd with opening statements.

    The prosecution has called several witnesses who were at Slaughters Supermarket the day Young is accused of running down a clerk in January of 2008.  The witnesses say they don’t remember Young saying anything, instead, they say he just looked angry.

    The victim, Ciera Sowers Boyd, also took the stand and says she doesn’t remember much of the attack.

    The sheriff’s deputy who responded to the 911 call at the grocery store says that Young came after him with a knife and a club.  The deputy says he didn’t shoot Young because he was afraid the bullet would hit someone else.