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The high-profile murder case against a San Jose man accused of killing two members of his ex-girlfriend’s family in Pleasanton earlier this year was suspended Monday morning after the defendant’s legal team raised doubt about his mental competency.
Allen Swadley, 32, will now be evaluated by two mental health professionals who will render an opinion on whether he is fit to stand trial. Swadley is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and a slew of special allegations for the deaths of 67-year-old Lori Simonds and her son, 28-year-old Evan James Simonds.
“So you’re declaring the doubt in that you don’t believe your client is able to assist you in any further criminal proceedings at this time, is that right?” Alameda County Superior Court Judge Paul Delucchi asked Swadley’s defense attorney, Robert Daniel Byers – who responded “yes.”
“Then based on the counsel’s representation, court hereby suspends criminal proceedings,” Delucchi said.
The Pleasanton Weekly reached out to both the prosecuting team and the defense attorney for comment. Neither has responded by time of publication.
Swadley was arrested back in February after police accused him of killing the two Simonds family members, both of whom were found with multiple gunshot wounds at their home near the Ken Mercer Sports Park on Feb. 18.
Swadley, who spent some time working at Foothill High School through a contracted partnership with Stanford Children’s Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center, had been dating Lori Simonds’ daughter until December 2025, according to court documents.
A police investigation later found that Swadley’s car was seen traveling southbound on Hopyard Road — down the street from the Simonds household — approximately one hour before the shooting occurred, according to authorities.
Multiple firearms were reportedly recovered from his vehicle upon his arrest and Swadley allegedly told police he was at the victims’ house at the time of the murders.
Swadley briefly appeared for his preliminary hearing in court Monday morning, a step in the criminal court process where, after a defendant enters a plea of not guilty — Swadley pleaded not guilty on May 18 — the prosecutors must show there is enough evidence to charge the defendant and move forward to a jury trial.
But instead of moving forward with the key hearing, Swadley’s defense team declared him incompetent to stand trial, which prompted the mental health evaluation.
This is the second murder case based out of Pleasanton that has been suspended for similar reasons this year.
Court records show that back in April, a judge suspended the case of Malcolm Tilley, a 33-year-old charged with brutally stabbing his 71-year-old mother Marjory in April 2025, so that he too could undergo a mental health assessment to determine if he is competent to stand trial.
According to the Alameda County Superior Court Criminal Case portal and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Inmate Locator, Tilley’s case is still suspended. He is set to return to court on Sept. 17, which is when his doctors are set to present their report on his assessment.
As for Swadley, his next court hearing is scheduled for Oct. 12., which is when his doctors are set to present their report on his mental competency.
A GoFundMe campaign, “Support for Melissa After Tragic Loss”, is still active and collecting donations to support the victims’ daughter and younger sister – the lone surviving member of the immediate family. The effort had raised over $87,300 as of Monday morning.
