'Red Bull killer' found not guilty by reason of insanity

CLEARWATER - Stephen Coffeen admits he smothered his father with a pillow in December 2009 but he will never face prison for the murder. Instead, he will be held in a state mental hospital for at least the next seven months, then released if doctors there tell Judge Nancy Moate Ley their patient no longer poses a threat to himself or others.

Judge Ley ruled Coffeen, 41, incompetent after psychiatrists for both the prosecution and defense reported the defendant was insane at the time of the crime.

"It is really too bad that the doctors reports can't just be released to everyone under the [federal privacy] law because they tell such a complete picture and it's so unusual that there are four such unanimous reports," the judge commented at Wednesday's proceeding.

The outcome outraged Thomas Coffeen, the victim's other son and the brother of the defendant. He discovered his father's body and reported the crime, which happened while Stephen Coffeen was staying with Thomas' family.

"They let a murderer go today, is what I feel. There's no doubt in my mind," Thomas told reporters. "He took my father, one of my best friends away, and I'm never going to get over that."

The defendant's attorneys dismissed the brother's concerns that Stephen Coffeen might kill again.

"The plan now is to go to the hospital, get well, come out, and live his life," George Tragos said. "There is no evidence of him ever having any other violent issues...it was a snap, it happened in a moment of time, and it's not going to happen again."