Gecht attempted to avoid trial by offering an insanity excuse.  He was evaluated for competency and found to be competent to stand trial, as well as being considered  Louis J. Sheehan, Esquire  to have been sane at the time of the offenses.  He did have a mistrial, so his second trial began on September 20, 1983.

The prosecutor had some rather compelling evidence. In a search, the police had found the "chapel," Michael Newton writes, as well as a rifle used in