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Man accused of strangling grandmother ordered to state mental hospital

By Marc Benjamin - The Fresno Bee

Thursday, Mar. 14, 2013 | 11:18 PM

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A Fresno man who is accused of strangling his grandmother three months ago was ordered on Thursday to go to a state mental hospital by a Fresno County judge.

Travis Fendley, 22, is unable to get anti-psychotic drugs he needs in Fresno County Jail that would make him competent for court hearings so he could assist with his defense, said his lawyer, Jane Boulger.

At the state hospital at Atascadero, he will get the medications he needs so he can be deemed competent to stand trial.

Fendley is accused of strangling his grandmother, Joyce Frazier, 78, at her home at 5827 E. Shields Ave. on Dec. 18.

Three mental health evaluations found Fendley not competent to stand trial.

Another hearing will be held before Judge Alvin Harrell next month before Fendley is moved out of Fresno County Jail.

Family members say he is a diagnosed schizophrenic.

"I know he will be getting medication now and it will calm his mind down," said his aunt, Becky Alford. "With no medication, he is just fighting with those demons in his head."

Frazier's body was discovered by a family member who was concerned because she knew Fendley was in the home. He had made threats against family members before.

After allegedly killing his grandmother, Fendley walked to his mother's home, stopped her as she was pulling away and stole her car. He was found in Merced County later that day after he crashed the car.


The reporter can be reached at (559) 441-6166, mbenjamin@fresnobee.com or @beebenjamin on Twitter.

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