Mental problems slows Rios case

Bill Gang

Thursday, Feb. 19, 1998 | 10:18 a.m.

John Flowers stared blankly ahead as he sat in shackles awaiting the calling of his court case charging him in the murder of Las Vegas singer Ginger Rios.

His beard was scraggly and his hair uncombed and he had nothing to add to Wednesday's discussion about his competence to stand trial in District Judge Michael Douglas's courtroom.

One psychiatrist already has declared Flowers to be "acutely psychotic" and unable to help his attorney. Deputy Public Defender Will Ewing said a second psychiatrist decided the defendant is "not able to cooperate" in his defense.

A hearing is set for Monday to decide if Flowers should be sent to the state mental hospital at Lake's Crossing near Sparks or if he should undergo further evaluation or treatment in Clark County.

Deputy District Attorney Gary Guymon has conceded that Flowers' mental condition could delay the case for months but such postponements are sometimes unavoidable.

If Flowers, also known as Craig Jacobson, is sent to a mental facility it won't be his first foray, according to sources close to the investigation.

Flowers spent "significant time" in a mental facility as a result of a criminal case he was facing several years ago in federal court on a charge of transporting stolen property, the source said.

Rios was killed April 4 after her husband drove her to the Spy Craft store at 3507 Maryland Parkway managed by Flowers.

Mark Hollinger told police that his 20-year-old wife never emerged from the store although Flowers told Metro Police detectives at the time that she left after buying a book about how to kill people and disappear.

But police said Flowers' wife came forward with information in August that led to the recovery of Rios' body in a grave in a southern Arizona desert. A second body was found nearby and police are investigating whether Flowers may have been responsible for that death also.

Flowers was arrested in Los Angeles on murder charges in Rios' death and returned to Nevada.