BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—Maxwell Anatra, 24, appeared in the Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday afternoon. Anatra is charged with the murder of his parents, Matthew and Lisa Anatra. They were killed in their Crestline home in November of 2025.
Visiting retired Columbus Judge VJ Hogan is presiding over the Anatra case.
Today’s hearing was to review the results of a competency exam requested by the defense.
According to the competency exam dated March 6th and conducted by Psychiatrist Dr. Thomas O’Reilly, Anatra is not competent to stand trial at this time.
Dr. O’Reilly noted that Anatra suffers from mental health issues that make him unable to understand proceedings or assist in his own defense. Dr. O’Reilly noted that Anatra can likely be restored to competency within approximately a year after a course of treatment is implemented.
Crawford County Prosecutor Matt Crall, Assistant Prosecutor Dan Stanley, and defense attorney James Mayers accepted Dr. O’Reilly’s analysis.
Judge Hogan ordered that Anatra be transported to the Timothy B. Moritz Forensic Unit at the Central Ohio Behavioral Healthcare Hospital (formerly Twin Valley Behavioral Center) in Columbus. The hospital is a maximum-security facility.
Crawford County Now will continue to follow this developing story.