The man accused of murdering the Fort Myers Beach library director nearly four years ago wrote to Lee Circuit Judge Margaret O. Steinbeck begging for the charges to be dropped, saying he’s recovered, just days before his trial was slated to start.
The trial for Adam Soules, 40, of Lehigh Acres, accused of fatally stabbing Leroy Hommerding to death started Tuesday with jury selection.
Soules wrote a letter addressed to Steinbeck requesting the dismissal of all charges, alleging four years of “abuse and neglect” at the Lee County Jail.
“Been taking meds every day and stopped hearing voices,” his written note to Steinbeck reads in part.
He further wrote he’s been meeting with a designated mental health expert, saying he’s ready to be normal and mentally stable in society again.
In August 2019, Steinbeck stayed the two cases against Soules — aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and first-degree murder — ruling that he was not competent because of mental illness.
Soules was then ordered to spend time in a mental health treatment facility. Officials determined him competent to stand trial following a hearing in October 2020.
There have also been changes in legal representation for Soules because of a conflict of interest for the assigned public defender.
Soules is accused of fatally stabbing Hommerding on the morning of Jan. 20, 2019, as the director opened the library’s doors for the second day of a weekend book sale.
A Lee County Sheriff’s Office report released shortly after the 2019 incident said Soules confessed to killing Hommerding.
The state attorney’s office for the 20th Judicial Circuit said it won’t seek the death penalty for Soules.
Soules has also been charged with aggravated battery for an incident 11 days before the library stabbing. In that case, Soules confessed to detectives that he had hurt a homeless man, Robert Keene, 60, on Jan. 9 because he was upset with him, his arrest report states.
Keene suffered serious wounds to his neck that required 50 stitches.
At the time, Soules was homeless as well.