The suspect in the killing of Jefferson County husband and father Nathan Gemeinhart is competent to stand trial, a Jefferson County judge has ruled.

Youit Jones, 36, is charged with capital murder, corpse abuse and second-degree arson in the 2022 shooting death of 42-year-old Nathan Gemeinhart.

According to newly released court documents, Gemeinhart’s body “did not appear to have a head or hands,” when authorities discovered the victim inside a burning Birmingham house.

The two men did not know each other.

Jones, who records state has a history of both inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment, is cleared to go to trial, which is set for 2025. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

The setting comes after Jones was committed to the Alabama Department of Mental Health in April 2022 for competency evaluation.

Jones told those examining him that he did not want to pursue a mental state defense. He said he was previously diagnosed with cluster headaches, and said his family sought psychiatric treatment for him after he experienced a “spiritual epiphany,” during which God was telling him what to do.

Dr. Anthony Lawrence examined and interviewed Jones and noted in court records that he did not display deficits that significantly interfered with his ability to track conversation or process information.

Jones was transferred from Taylor Hardin Secure Medical Facility back to the Jefferson County Jail Wednesday where he will remain held without bond.

Judge May noted that Jones repeatedly and consistently refused to participate in any evaluation or assessment regarding his mental status at the time of Gemeinhart’s killing, but said Jones provided “rational, not delusional, reasons for making this decision.”

Jones is being prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney Joe Roberts and Assistant District Attorney Jessica Hebson. He is represented by attorneys Glennon Threatt and Maston Evans.

Authorities have not released a motive in Gemeinhart’s slaying, but the charge is capital because it involved kidnapping and arson.

The homicide investigation began Aug. 9 when Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service responded at 2:45 a.m. to the 1300 block of Eufaula Avenue on a report of a house fire.

Firefighters arrived on the scene to find the abandoned house in flames.

Once they extinguished the blaze, they found a badly burned body inside. Police said evidence showed that the person was a victim of homicide.

Less than one block away, authorities found Gemeinhart’s 2007 Toyota Corolla parked in front of a house on Pike Road.

Gemeinhart had left his southern Jefferson County home about 7:45 a.m. Monday, Aug. 8, and was going to check on some properties over on the west side of the county. He worked in property management.

He was supposed to meet his wife at 11:30 a.m. for his twin daughters’ Meet the Teacher school event, but never showed up.

Friends and family immediately launched a search for Gemeinhart, knowing it was unlike him to be out of touch with them, and to miss the school event for his kindergartners, which were the oldest of his four children.

Family reported that Gemeinhart’s had been spotted on surveillance cameras at 8:40 a.m. that Monday on Aaron Aranov Drive in Fairfield.

There was phone data at 8:49 a.m. and then nothing after that time.

Police had remained publicly tight-lipped on any possible connection between the body and Gemeinhart’s disappearance, but it was widely speculated that the two cases would become one, which they did.

Within hours of the discovery of Gemeinhart’s body and car, Birmingham’s SWAT team descended on a house next to where the car was found.

Detectives and evidence technicians conducted an extensive search but have not said what they found.

Police announced they were searching for Jones in connection with the homicide, labeling Jones “armed and dangerous.”

Jones had been staying in the house that was searched by the SWAT team and detectives.

Only a small alley separates Jones’ house from the abandoned house where the body was found.

Jones was captured following a carjacking attempt in Oklahoma. Court records obtained by AL.com showed Jones tried to rob a woman of her vehicle and was held down by McDonald’s employees in the restaurant parking lot until police could arrive.

The Oklahoma charges against Jones were dismissed earlier this month in deference to the more serious alleged crimes in Alabama. Jones was extradited to Alabama in late October.