Des Moines, Iowa — The Iowa Court of Appeals has affirmed the first-degree murder and animal abuse convictions of Tyler James Dazey, who was found guilty in the brutal killings of his mother and her dog.

Dazey appealed his conviction, arguing that he was mentally incompetent to stand trial. He claimed his mental health issues prevented him from properly helping with his own defense.

On July 22, 2026, the Court of Appeals rejected that argument. In a written opinion, the court ruled that Dazey was competent to stand trial and that his due process rights were not violated.

According to the ruling, Dazey showed unusual religious, metaphysical, and philosophical beliefs during the case. However, mental health experts and the trial court determined these did not stop him from understanding the charges or assisting in his defense. The court noted that Dazey simply chose not to cooperate with certain defense strategies, such as insanity or diminished capacity claims, because he believed they suggested guilt.

Dazey also refused to attend his own trial, giving reasons that included metaphysical presence, honoring his mother and dog, and observing a “holy week.” The appeals court viewed these as personal choices rather than signs of incompetence.

The opinion emphasized that a defendant’s refusal to work with their lawyer or participate fully does not automatically mean they are unable to do so. The court found Dazey had the ability to assist but decided against it.

The convictions from the Dubuque County District Court therefore stand. Dazey was represented by attorney Tiffany Kragnes on appeal, while the state was represented by the Attorney General’s office.

This decision ends Dazey’s appeal on the competency issue.