Florida man declared mentally unable to stand trial after stabbing

The 25-year-old man accused of fatally stabbing a 73-year-old woman in April was declared mentally unable to stand trial, according to Martin County court records.

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Kersten Francilus, who was charged with murder in the death of Joyce Ellen Thompson Adams, was found incompetent to proceed on Aug. 28 and sent to a state hospital, according to court records.

The fatal stabbing occurred April 2 in the Southwood community near Southeast Salerno Road just off Kanner Highway, according to a Martin County sheriff’s report.

Just before 4 p.m., sheriff’s officials received 911 calls regarding a suspicious man walking door to door and interacting with different people, previously said Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek.

The man, later identified as Francilus, apparently asked where the new bank was, Budensiek said. There wasn’t a new bank in the area.

“It was noted he appeared ‘out of it,'” according to the report. Another caller indicated a man “stabbed a female and was still stabbing her.”

Francilus was taken into custody after a deputy got to the neighborhood and “observed the male suspect stabbing a female in the neck and back,” according to the report. A deputy reported Francilus stopped stabbing Adams, whose listed address is in the community, as soon as he was ordered to do so.

Budensiek said Adams had been walking her dog in a cul-de-sac.

Adams was taken to Cleveland Clinic Martin South Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. A doctor told investigators she appeared to have sustained at least 16 stab wounds.

Budensiek said there didn’t appear to be any connection between the two.

“I found a lady and then I killed her,” Francilus was quoted as saying to deputies.

Francilus told investigators he left his home and “did what I did” and “went around the neighborhood,” according to the report.

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“He was reluctant to provide further details, but when I asked if he remembered what the woman looked like he said she was Jewish,” according to the report.

Francilus then asked for an attorney, according to the report. Investigators noted Adams wasn’t Jewish.

Francilus’ mother, who lived about a mile away from Adams, was shown a photo of the knife recovered, according to the report. She said it was from the home and usually she kept “the knives above the microwave, essentially hiding them from the suspect.”

She said her son hadn’t taken his medications since February, according to the report. There was no indication as to the type of medication in the report.

Video showed Francilus leaving the home at 3:11 p.m., not long before the homicide occurred, according to the report.

Laurie K. Blandford is a breaking news reporter with TCPalm. Email her at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida man declared mentally unable to stand trial after stabbing

Reporting by Laurie K. Blandford, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers

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This story was originally published September 6, 2026 at 1:00 PM.