Psychiatric evaluation ordered for Dorchester murder defendant

By Maria Cramer, Globe Staff

A 26-year-old man has been sent to the state hospital in Bridgewater for a psychiatric evaluation after pleading not guilty today to a charge that he stabbed his girlfriend to death in the kitchen of her Dorchester apartment.

Jose Torres was arraigned in Dorchester District Court on a murder charge in the death Sunday morning of 29-year-old Melissa Santiago.

A court-appointed doctor told Judge Sydney Hanlon that Torres was depressed and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

"He's obviously distraught, but he's also very confused about why he's been arrested,” said Torres's attorney, Jeffrey Karp.

Police have said they went to the apartment on Washington Street after receiving a 911 call at about 11:20 a.m. Sunday and found Santiago face down on the floor, suffering from multiple stab wounds. After questioning Torres, they took him into custody.

Four children were in the apartment at the time. They were unharmed. Police would not say whether they witnessed the attack.

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