MIAMI – Jurors heard from a neuropsychologist Wednesday on day two of the penalty phase trial of Anthawn Ragan.
Ragan was convicted of first-degree murder last month for the 2013 shooting of Luis Perez, 21, at a North Miami motel. The same jury will deliberate and recommend whether Ragan will spend the rest of his life in prison or die for his crime.
“He kept insisting there was nothing wrong with him or a need for evaluation,” said Dr. Karim Yamout. “We had to go back and forth and establish if we even wanted to do this or not.”
The defense is working to save his life, and is presenting mitigating factors, including Ragan’s multiple mental health conditions.
Yamout said he evaluated Ragan’s criminal history, video evidence, health and school records, and evaluations conducted by other doctors, including a recent one during a mental health episode back in February.
“Both psychiatrists diagnosed him with schizophrenia,” said Yamout.
Records show Ragan, 30, was diagnosed with ADHD as a child and was charged with crimes as a minor.
Yamout also described the time he personally spent with Ragan during an evaluation he says he didn’t seem interested in.
“He said he didn’t think there was a need, so he wasn’t invested in it,” said Yamout.
He also determined Ragan suffers from antisocial personality disorder.