Family Of Tulsa Man Who Murdered Mother Happy With Insanity Ruling

A judge ruled a man who murdered his mother Matthew Stick was not guilty because he was insane at the time.

Matthew Stick stabbed his mother to death in October of 2012. He told people after the murder, he believed his mother was possessed by a demon that was torturing her soul.

Stick said when he heard her gasping for breath he believed it was the demon leaving her body.

Matthew Stick's family hugged in relief after the judge ruled Matthew is mentally ill, didn't know right from wrong and couldn't appreciate the consequences of his actions when he stabbed his mother, Veronica, to death.

"It's been an absolute nightmare for nearly three years," said Matthew's father, Michael Stick.

Veronica and Matthew worked at All Souls Unitarian Church. That day they went home for lunch and watched a TV show they'd recorded.

The show was about the world ending and the main character carried a sword; Matthew said he believed the character was him in the future and believed his mom was warning him she was possessed by a demon.

Two experts said Matthew was not faking just to get off, and the judge ruled Matthew is mentally ill and a danger to society, so the judge ordered him committed to the Oklahoma Forensic Center in Vinita.

6/4/2015 Related Story: Tulsa Judge Rules Son Who Killed Mom Not Guilty By Reason Of Insanity

“It's been two years and eight months since my wife died and we knew all along, my children, we all knew all along that my son was mentally ill," Michael Stick said.

They said they could see Matthew unraveling in the days and weeks before his mother's death and had called to make him an appointment but were put on a very long waiting list.

They say Matthew is much better now.

"He's doing great. He's been on medication since the beginning and he's doing absolutely wonderful. To me, it's almost like he's his old self again," Matthew's father said.

Michael said he couldn't have survived any of this had it not been for his deep faith in God, and now he's having faith that, with treatment and medication, Matthew will someday be back with his family.

"I don't know how long. I'm just thankful for the doctors he'll be seeing there and hope someday he'll get to come home to me," he said.

Matthew must stay in the Vinita mental hospital until a judge says evidence shows Matthew is once again sane.

The judge gave no timeline for any such decision.