Centralia Murder Suspect to Undergo Competency Evaluation 

Concerns About Conversations With Defendant in Death of Rikkey Outumuro Led Defense Attorney to Request Evaluation 

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The Centralia man accused of murdering a woman last weekend will undergo a competency evaluation to determine whether he’s mentally capable of standing trial. 

Cristopher Allen Gaudreau, 28, of Centralia, has been charged with one count of first-degree murder, domestic violence, for allegedly killing Rikkey Outumuro. She was found dead in the 800 block of South Gold Street the morning of Oct. 31 with five bullet wounds to her chest. 

Gaudreau’s attorney, Chris Baum, told the court Thursday morning that conversations he’d had with Gaudreau gave him concern for Gaudreau’s competency. 

“I have some concerns about his ability to assist in his own defense, so I just want to make sure it’s not an issue,” Baum said. 

While Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Scott Jackson said he hadn’t been made aware of any issues surrounding Gaudreau's competency and asked Baum to give the court more details about his specific concerns, Baum declined to disclose more about the conversations he’d had with Gaudreau. 

“It’s a challenging circumstance to expand on confidential conversations with my client,” said Baum, adding that the evaluation may very well determine Gaudreau is mentally able to continue with the case, but he would rather have him evaluated to be sure. 

“I’m protecting my client’s interests to make sure he’s treated fairly under the system,” Baum said.  

Judge J. Andrew Toynbee granted Baum’s request for a competency evaluation, which will be performed by Western State Hospital, a psychiatric hospital located in Lakewood, in the coming weeks. 

Toynbee scheduled a hearing for Nov. 18 to check in on the status of the competency evaluation and determine the next steps for the case. 

Gaudreau was arrested Oct. 31 after he was interviewed by Centralia police officers about the circumstances of Outumuro’s death. 

Gaudreau reportedly told police he and Outumuro had gone out drinking Saturday night and though he said he consumed only two drinks, he said he could not remember anything after approximately 11:30 p.m. on Oct. 30. 

When asked about his drinking history, Gaudreau reportedly said “he did not like to drink due to bad things happening when he did,” according to court documents. He indicated the last time he blacked out drinking was a few months prior, when he was arrested for discharging his 9mm Zigana handgun — the same handgun he was reportedly carrying when he and Outumuro went drinking Saturday night — into a tree in the backyard. 

Police confiscated the Zigana as part of that case, according to court documents, and returned the weapon to Gaudreau on Oct. 28, three days before Outumuro’s death. 

Gaudreau reportedly mistook a friend for a “homeless person” and “fired a couple shots at him” around midnight before the murder, according to court documents.  

According to the friend, both Gaudreau and Outumuro were both “extremely intoxicated” at the time of the encounter. 

Gaudreau told police he woke up on the floor of his residence in the 800 block of South Gold Street sometime before 8:20 a.m. on Oct. 31 to his 6-year-old son playing video games and found Outumuro on the couch, dead, with bullet wounds to her chest and four bullet casings on the floor. 

Outumuro was reportedly in a defensive position, with both her arms covering her face. 

A candlelight vigil honoring Outumuro will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Pine Street Plaza, located at 100 East Pine St. in Centralia.

“This event is to honor the life and legacy of a devoted queer activist, advocate and pioneer who endlessly worked to improve the lives of the trans and queer community within Lewis County,” Hope Alliance Lewis County wrote while announcing the vigil. “Please join us in remembering her life.”

Outumuro was a former Miss Gay Lewis County and was an active member of the Lewis County LGBTQIA+ community, performing at Pride events under the name Tru Starlet.

Capital City Pride has started a fundraiser on Facebook to aid Outumuro’s family with funeral expenses. For more information or to donate, visit www.facebook.com/donate/2961499287433080/.

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The Chronicle is working on an article focusing on the life of Rikkey Outumuro. Those interested in being included can contact Chronicle reporter Emily Fitzgerald at emily@chronline.com.