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A Kearns woman accused in the 2014 attempted murder of her newborn will undergo a court-ordered psychological evaluation to determine how a criminal case against her will proceed.
Alicia Englert was charged with first-degree felony attempted murder after her days-old newborn daughter was found abandoned in a trash can two years ago.
Englert, 24, was deemed incompetent for trial last year after four separate evaluators said the former rental car agent could not understand the charges or the court proceedings.
Salt Lake County prosecutors want Englert's competency restored so that she can stand trial.
At a Thursday hearing in 3rd District Court, prosecutors and Englert's defense attorney said they had agreed to a psychological evaluation to determine whether she suffers from underlying mental illness or mental condition.
Such a diagnosis is "essential if she is going to access services through the Utah State Hospital," said Deputy Salt Lake County District Attorney Robert Parrish.
Judge Elizabeth Hruby-Mills is expected to sign an order directing the psychological evaluation once Parrish submits it to the court.
In court papers, Parrish has said none of the treatments aimed at restoring competency available through the state hospital — either in-patient or out-patient — in Provo can be accessed without a diagnosis.
Since 2014, Englert has taken three IQ tests, scoring 68, 65 and 64, respectively on the exams. The forensic unit does not accept patients with scores less than 70, court papers filed by Englert's attorney say.
Englert, who is free on bail, has never entered a formal plea to the charges.
Court papers say a neighbor who heard the newborn girl crying found the child in a trash can outside Englert's family home in August 2014.
Police have said Englert told them she did not know she was pregnant until she gave birth and did not want the baby.
The baby was placed in state custody.
Another hearing in the case is set for June 27.