LEBANON — A Mason man who was committed to a maximum-security psychiatric center for killing his ex-wife's new husband was denied more freedom Thursday after psychologists said he's an escape threat and a suicide risk, and still can't control his anger.

        Judge P. Daniel Fedders rejected a request to transfer Jeffrey Bornhoeft from Twin Valley Psychiatric System in Dayton to Summit Behavior Health Care Center, formerly known as the Pauline Warfield Lewis Center, in Cincinnati.

Bornhoeft

        The judge evaluated reports and testimony from psychologists Nancy Schmidtgoessling and Thomas Martin.

        The Dayton facility, which is preparing to close its maximum-security wing in June, had petitioned the court since February for permission to transfer Mr. Bornhoeft.

        Dr. Martin, a staff psychologist at Twin Valley, said Mr. Bornhoeft should be moved despite his troubles.

        Ms. Schmidtgoessling, who evaluated Mr. Bornhoeft for the prosecution, said any transfer out of maximum-security was premature.

        “Mr. Bornhoeft still lacks appreciation and understanding of his anger, he has no apparent remorse or empathy regarding the other individuals in this incident, particularly his anger toward his ex-wife, he is taking steps now to find his ex-wife and he is considered to still be at risk of harming himself,” she wrote. Defense lawyer John Quinn said Mr. Bornhoeft has never tried to or threatened to escape from Twin Valley. He disputed that Mr. Bornhoeft tried to find his ex-wife. Instead, he attempted to find his three young children so he could have a relationship with them and file for Social Security benefits for them while he is hospitalized, Mr. Quinn said.

        The judge's decision to keep Mr. Bornhoeft in maximum security means the 31-year-old mechanic will be sent to a psychiatric hospital in Columbus.

        Mr. Bornhoeft has been at Twin Valley since November, when a jury found him not guilty by reason of insanity in the April 7 shooting death of Jamey Johnson, 23, of Lebanon.

        Mr. Johnson was shot three times point-blank in the head while he slept. The insanity verdict spared Mr. Bornhoeft from the death penalty.

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