Man found incompetent for trial for Columbus woman’s murder

According to Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, James Byrd was found incompetent to stand trial for an August 2016 murder. The court order was signed December 22, 2016, by Judge Guy Reece for Byrd to complete 1-year competency treatment. Byrd was charged and pled not guilty to murdering Rae’Lynn Thomas this past August. Thomas’ family witnessed the shooting and wanted to see Byrd go to jail for the rest of his life.The family considered Rae'Lynn's murder a hate crime. Byrd is exp