By Jeff Devine, Dale County Chronicle
A Dale County woman accused of shooting her husband as he slept has been ordered to undergo treatment at a state mental health facility, according to newly filed court documents.
Judge Kimberly Crawford ruled on Tuesday that Annie Huffstutler will be placed in the care of the Alabama Department of Mental Health for competency restoration treatment. The order follows an evaluation by a state psychologist who determined Huffstutler is currently not mentally competent to stand trial.
Competency restoration treatment is used by the Alabama Department of Mental Health with the goal of restoring a criminal defendant’s ability to understand their charges as required by law.
Huffstutler was taken into custody in early June after deputies responded to her home on West Main Street in Ariton. Dale County Sheriff Mason Bynum reported that Huffstutler allegedly shot her husband, Shawn Watson, while he was asleep.
She has been charged with murder and has entered a plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.
Authorities also confirmed that five children were inside the home at the time. Although none of them witnessed the shooting, investigators say they did hear the gunfire.
Shawn Watson, the deceased, was raising a few of Huffstutler’s children with her as well as their own biological children.
*Image of the deceased, Shawn Watson, shared with permission from members of his family.
