MARION COUNTY — Judge Mark Stedelin on Tuesday ruled a 49-year-old Centralia man was not guilty by reason of insanity in the case accusing him of multiple charges stemming from an altercation with his brother in 2021 that reportedly involved a baseball bat and a sword.

Dewayne Whipple was charged with multiple felony and misdemeanor charges including Class X home invasion and Class 3 aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

In June of this year, Whipple was found mentally unfit to stand trial on the charges and was remanded to the custody of the Department of Human Services for treatment. It was expected at that time he would be able to regain fitness within a year.

However, after consistent updates on Whipple’s mental fitness, it was decided on Tuesday that he was unable to achieve fitness and was instead declared not guilty by reason of insanity.

The ruling again remands Whipple back into the care of DHS for a term to not exceed March 27, 2036 – 14 years after the incident involving Dewayne’s brother Dickie.

According to Centralia police reports; there was a possible love triangle between Dewayne Whipple, his brother Dickie, and a woman that Dewayne reportedly ran into at Farm Fresh.

Dewayne went with the woman to a Centralia home where she reportedly lived with Dickie.

Dewayne entered the home uninvited and the two brothers faced off, Dewayne with a sword and Dickie with a bat. Dickie called 911 and reported someone at his home with a knife attempting to stab him. No injuries were reported.

Officers arrived on the scene and took Dewayne into custody for alleged aggravated assault, resisting arrest, and home invasion.