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Man who admitted to Homestead fire headed for mental health treatment, judge rules

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (PA) - 1/29/2015

Jan. 29--Edward McDonald -- who admitted to lighting a six-alarm fire Friday that destroyed a historic section of Homestead -- was "unusually happy and cheerful" days after the blaze and could not explain the charges against him or why he was being held in jail, a psychiatrist told an Allegheny County judge today.

Common Pleas President Judge Jeffrey A. Manning this morning ruled that McDonald, 27, was not competent to stand trial and will be sent for treatment at Torrance State Hospital in Westmoreland County for up to 60 days.

Tushar Makadia, a psychiatrist with Allegheny County's Behavioral Assessment Unit, told Judge Manning he met with McDonald on Monday and diagnosed the man with unspecified schizophrenia and likely bipolar disorder.

McDonald was easily distracted, couldn't respond to questions, and was disheveled and unkempt, Dr. Makadia said. He looked around the room while they talked and was likely experiencing auditory or other hallucinations, the doctor said.

"He couldn't explain or provide a reason for being there," said Dr. Makadia, who recommended McDonald be transferred to Torrance.

McDonald told federal agents Friday he'd started the blaze about 4:30 that morning in his apartment above Concept Uniform on East Eighth Avenue. The fire gutted and damaged buildings in Homestead's main commercial district, displaced tenants and sent two people to the hospital.

Police estimated the fire caused more than $2 million in damages and charged McDonald with 14 felony counts of arson and a felony charge of risking a catastrophe. He was being held in the Allegheny County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Two days before the fire, McDonald told neighbors he was depressed, hearing voices and worried about the end of the world, according to a criminal complaint. He also sought mental health treatment days before the fire, police said.

Lexi Belculfine: [email protected] or 412-263-1878. Twitter: @LexiBelc.

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