Robert Deere, who faced charges for killing three individuals in 2015 while offering abortion services at a family planning clinic in Colorado, has passed away while in federal custody, as confirmed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons on Tuesday.
Deere died of natural causes on Saturday at the Federal Prisoner Medical Center in Springfield, Missouri, according to Bureau spokesperson Christy Breshears.
At 67 years old, Deere had been involved in ongoing legal disputes since his indictment in federal court in 2019. A key point of contention was whether individuals could be forcibly treated with medication for mental health conditions like delusional disorder.
His mental competency to stand trial was repeatedly questioned, which delayed the legal proceedings against him.
Fourth Judicial District Attorney Michael J. Allen, whose office attempted to prosecute Deere in state court, noted that Deere had recently been indicted on civil charges by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Efforts to obtain comments from the federal public defender’s office in Colorado were unsuccessful, as the Associated Press left a voicemail seeking input. A spokesperson from the U.S. Department of Justice also declined to comment on the situation.
Federal prosecutors indicated that Deere was armed with multiple firearms, a propane tank, and 500 rounds of ammunition when he opened fire outside the clinic, forcing his way in.
Two of the victims included Keal Stewart, 29, a father of two and Iraq veteran, and Jennifer Malkowski, 36, a mother also of two, who were there with a friend when they were shot.
The tragedy unfolded further when Garrett Swaysey, a campus police officer from a nearby university who responded to the incident, was also killed. In total, nine others sustained injuries from the shooting.
Last year, a ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit confirmed a federal judge’s decision allowing for forced medication to help Deer regain enough competency to stand trial. His legal team expressed concerns that potential side effects from such treatment could exacerbate existing health issues like high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
“All three victims and this community deserve full justice in this case, and that possibility is currently being denied to them,” stated Allen.
