UPDATE: Milbank man charged with murder will undergo psychiatric evaluation

March 9, 2022
Mike Tanner

MILBANK, S.D. — A Milbank man accused of killing his brother and sister-in-law last year will undergo a psychological evaluation prior to trial.

Scott Bratland is the defense attorney for Brent Hanson, whose charged with three counts of murder in the deaths of Clyde Hanson and his wife Jessica Hanson, who was nine months pregnant at the time of her death.

Bratland tells KWAT News a motions hearing was held last week, when a judge granted his request for a discovery order and a psychiatric evaluation.

Police say Brent Hanson hit his brother in the head with a baseball bat Dec. 12 at a residential property they both owned, but where they lived in separate spaces.

Jessica Hanson returned home the following morning and the defendant allegedly struck her in the head with a machete.

The couple’s bodies were found Dec. 15 after police were called to do a welfare check.