Competency exam ordered for man charged with open murder

CRYSTAL FALLS — A competency exam has been ordered in the case of an Alpha man charged with open murder.

The attorney for 65-year-old Alfred Saario filed a motion for the competency exam last week. He was scheduled to have a preliminary exam in Iron County Trial Court Tuesday morning.

Police arrested Saario last month in the death of 29-year-old Jamie Lee James of Alpha. On June 3rd, he allegedly shot and killed James before turning the gun on himself.

Saario remains in jail on a $500,000 bond. No future court dates have been set.