Albrecht Muth Calls Himself a Prophet, Claims to See Archangel Gabriel

Albrecht Muth will be transferred to St. Elizabeths psychiatric hospital in Washington, D.C. for a full mental evaluation. Muth is suspected in the strangling and beating death of his 91-year-old wife, the late Viola Drath of Georgetown.

During court proceedings Tuesday, Dr. Nader Marzban, who has been treating Muth for the last several months in the Department of Corrections, told the court that Muth is "delusional" and that three government psychiatrists believe he has a psychosis.

Marzban said Muth claims to see the Archangel Gabriel, that he talks to and sees Gabriel and that he believes his fast was ordered by the angel. Muth has been fasting since Nov. 20, but starting Monday agreed to eat for seven days before beginning another 40-day fast. Muth claims to be "chosen" like Moses and Jesus and has told his doctor that God will help him survive the fast, though the Marzban told the patient that he did not have the physical strength to continue not eating.

Mary Amato, counsel for the D.C. Department of Corrections, told Judge Russell F. Canan that the agency only has a provisional dignosis on Muth's mental capacity, which hinders the DOC's ability to properly petition for guardianship.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Glen Kirschner suggested that the court transfer the suspect to St. Elizabeths "if medically prudent."

Amato told Canan that psychiatrists and attorneys from the Department of Mental Health, the DOC and United Medical Center determined in a meeting Monday that it would be "appropriate" for Muth to be transferred to St. Elizabeths for a "full competency assessment."

Canan granted the request to send Muth for a full examination at the mental facility, with support from both the prosecution and defense. He vacated the planned March 9 arraignment and set a new date of March 14 for arraingment and competency determination.