It was just a little over a year ago that a 70-year-old Port Orchard woman had murder charges dropped due to a diminished mental state.

Daughter-in-law Tricia Bergeron in California said Oct. 31 that family has received notification that she will be released from Western State Hospital on or after Nov. 27 unless something changes between now and then and will then live in Lakewood.

The family is concerned that an accused killer is going to be set free in a community. Her brother-in-law David and his wife Amanda in Texas suggested “reaching out to newsies” to make the Lakewood area aware. They also hope publicizing what’s happened could keep the suspect at the mental institution.

Police arrested Colleen Jean Bergeron (Woodruff) Nov. 16, 2022, weeks after her husband, William Bergeron Sr., was found dead in their Manchester home.

Kitsap County prosecuting attorney Ione George said that she is trying to find out the mental state of the suspect. It may have deteriorated, and so she’s going to a care facility. But if her condition has improved, Bergeron said George has told the family that she would like to seek justice and have Colleen Bergeron arrested and prosecuted.

At this point, George doesn’t know what her office will do. “It’s unfortunate, but it’s a waiting game” until we find out, George said.

The Victim-Witness Notification letter from the Department of Social and Health Services dated Oct. 28 to William Bergeron Jr. says Colleen likely will be released in late November.

“It’s a punch in the gut to the family,” Tricia Bergeron said. “I don’t know if I’m buying this whole incapacity thing.”

Bergeron said her husband, William Bergeron Jr., contacted George right away, and she hadn’t known about it either. Bergeron said a casual email was no way for the family to find out about something so important. “It was a huge shock to us.”

Court records say the couple had been married since 2019. Police allege the wife staged his death. A charge of first-degree murder was brought against her, but it was dismissed almost a year later in Kitsap County Superior Court Oct. 13, 2023.

Her ability to stand trial was in question for months, leading the defense to file a motion to rule her incompetent. Judge Tina Robinson granted the motion due to the likelihood that Bergeron would not be able to comprehend and stand trial.

“Mrs. Bergeron has been evaluated by three experts—all who have concluded that she is not competent due to dementia,” attorney Jeniece LaCross says in court documents.