Suspect in 3 Ariz. murders squawks like bird at competency hearing

By: Barry Leibowitz
Topics: Daily Blotter

Michael Lee Crane is accused of killing three people in Arizona in January 2012

/ KPHO

(CBS/AP) PHOENIX - The suspect accused of killing another man in Phoenix and a wealthy couple in the picturesque suburb of Paradise Valley refused to say his own name in court and then squawked like a bird.

Michael Lee Crane was in Maricopa County Superior Court on Thursday for a hearing about his mental capacity to stand trial when he started acting bizarrely.

Crane, 31, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder in the killings of Bruce Gaudet on Jan. 26 and of Lawrence and Glenna Shapiro on Jan. 30 in separate robberies.

The Shapiros were well-to-do philanthropists in their 70s whose bodies were found tied up and burned beyond recognition in their stylish Paradise Valley home. Gaudet's body was found inside his burning Phoenix condo; he had been shot to death.

Glenna and Lawrence Shapiro were murdered in their Paradise Valley, Ariz. home on Jan. 30, 2012

/ KPHO

Crane smiled widely at people in the courtroom Thursday as detention officers pushed him in a wheelchair. He had complained that his right leg was hurting, although he refused medical attention, the sheriff's office said.

When court Commissioner Michael Hintze asked Crane to say his full name, Crane paused for a long time before saying that his name should be written in paperwork in capitalized letters, making him a corporation rather than an individual.

Crane said he wasn't being a "smart aleck" before Hintze simply confirmed Crane's identity with his attorney and the officers.

As he was being wheeled out, Crane let out a loud noise that sounded like a bird squawk.

Hintze postponed Crane's competency hearing until April 19.

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by bobkat258 March 26, 2012 1:21 PM EDT: Going for the insanity plea I see.; Reply to this comment


by Big-Daddy-Kahuna March 26, 2012 12:26 PM EDT: "...refused to say his own name in court and then squawked like a bird."

He deserved one good smack to the back of the head!; Reply to this comment


by Farver4girls March 26, 2012 11:28 AM EDT: Good act! I'm sure the judge saw through it.; Reply to this comment


by Stevie851 March 26, 2012 11:17 AM EDT: What a load. This guy has taken a page from the Jared Lee Loughner page of criminal behavior. Loughner murdered 6 people, wounded several others and has yet to see a day in court - a year later! I don't believe it for a minute. Crane is a career criminal and should not have been on the street in the first place. BUT - he's white - not Hispanic - so Sheriff Joe doesn't pay him any mind. Ridiculous.; Reply to this comment