NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The day before Kenneth Beach allegedly shot and killed the man he grew up alongside, he sought help from two different psychiatric facilities in Nashville.
On Monday, Beach's wife told NewsChannel 5 she took him to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. They kept him overnight and let him go. On Wednesday morning, his mom said she took him to Centerstone Mental Health and Addiction Treatment for All and said he didn't receive help to her level of satisfaction.
Hours later at around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, Beach is accused of killing Josue Riscar Chirino after shooting him multiple times, police said. Beach turned himself in to the police Thursday afternoon.
In January 2004, the court found Beach not guilty by reason of insanity after he was initially charged with attempted second-degree murder after trying to kill his girlfriend.
Court documents obtained first by NewsChannel 5 showed that Beach had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and cannabis dependence before he was charged with criminal homicide in 2023.
This is not the first time this situation has happened in Nashville this year. Two weeks ago, Jillian Ludwig was allegedly shot and killed by Shaquille Taylor, a man found too incompetent to stand trial for a previous charge in 2023. The Belmont University freshman's funeral is this week.
Beach's childhood and family
He said he started using drugs at 12, sometimes smoking marijuana 10 to 15 times a day. Court documents revealed Beach told doctors he was trapped in "thug life" and had been involved in a gang. During high school, he was expelled after frequent suspensions in school for fighting.
Court documents revealed a family history of mental illness, with one sibling with bipolar disorder and another with schizophrenia.
He was incarcerated at the Taft Youth Development Center after an attempted homicide charge was dropped to aggravated assault. He said he supported himself by drug deal, according to court records.
Beach said he started having manic episodes at 17.
What happened in 2004
However, the court said in 2004 he was taking psychotropic medication to remain competent, and he was experiencing symptoms of severe mental illness when he attempted to kill his girlfriend.
Court documents indicate Beach told doctors from the Forensic Evaluation Team at Vanderbilt Community Mental Health Center he had been off his medication several weeks before the crime. He told the court he had been off his medication for two years before his hospitalization.
He had one previous psychiatric hospitalization at the Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute before his 2004 charge.
"At one point, he jumped into a ceiling fan in an attempt to 'go into the light,'" court documents reveal he said to his girlfriend that night. "During this evening, his girlfriend noticed he was acting bizarrely by throwing cereal and referring to her as his mother, stepfather and cousin. He stated that if he ever died, he wanted to her to die with him."
His girlfriend reported he then shot at her through the bathroom door but no bullets hit her, according to court documents. After he stopped firing at her, she exited the bathroom to find him running around outside in his underwear.
Court documents showed he did take ecstasy that day, but the effects of the drug weren't long enough to impact the moment in which he shot at her.
When he first arrived in jail after his attempted murder charged, he was reported as saying he was trying to fight off "demon spirits."
In early 2004, Beach was deemed not guilty by reason of insanity.
After the court decision
Directly after the court's decision, Beach went into a 90-day treatment facility.
He was discharged from his inpatient status in May 2004, where the court requested him to seek outpatient services through the same mental health facility.
Court documents showed he was released on a mandatory outpatient treatment plan. That plan said he must maintain his medication, abstain from drugs and alcohol, and never possess a firearm or weapon of any kind.
During his mandatory outpatient treatment, Beach was convicted of a felony drug charge.
In 2011, doctors petitioned the court to have that mandatory outpatient treatment end because he had bettered his life.
His doctor from facility said he had "consistent adherence to treatment recommendations as observed over the past 18 months."
Criminal history following
Once he left mandatory outpatient treatment, Beach found himself in the court again, according to his criminal history.
NewsChannel 5 reported on a shootout in 2013 on Porter Road. Beach did not explain what led up to the shooting, but police said the victim was sitting in his truck when Beach pulled into the parking lot.
For some reason, Beach walked up to the victim's car and slashed his back tire. The two had a short conversation and then police said Beach shot him in the leg. He then got back into the car he came in and left.
He was convicted and charged for shooting the man in the leg and was back in court again for an additional charge of felony assault in 2014.
CRIMINAL HISTORY
Sept. 3, 2002: Possession or casual exchange — dismissed | possession of a weapon — judgment deferred, no conviction
Nov. 8, 2002: Criminal trespassing — guilty
March 4, 2003: Possession or casual exchange — guilty
Jan. 4, 2004: Attempted first-degree murder — not guilty by reason of insanity
May 11, 2006: Felony possession with the intent of sell and misdemeanor possession of a weapon — guilty | felony intent with intent-schedule IV and unlawful drug paraphernalia — dismissed
Nov. 11, 2007: Misdemeanor of possession or casual exchange — guilty
March 27, 2008: Felony controlled substance — dismissed | Possession with intent to sell — guilty to a lesser charge
Aug. 22, 2013: Felony possession of a weapon — guilty
Aug. 24, 2014: Felony assault, aggravated - deadly weapon — guilty | vandalism under $500 — dismissed
Oct. 16, 2015: Driver license revoked — dismissed
Aug. 23, 2018: Felony dangerous weapon with prior, possession or casual exchange, drug possession, possession with intent to sell — dismissed
