BOISE, Idaho — A man accused of stabbing and slashing a 74-year-old stranger in an unprovoked attack in Boise last fall has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder.
Ruben Diaz, 36, has been held on a $1 million bond since his arrest Nov. 8.
Police say the victim, Gary Vinsonhaler, was raking leaves in the front yard of his Preamble Place home in southeast Boise when Diaz walked up to him.
Vinsonhaler said later that Diaz, who he had never met, looked lost and asked him for directions. The victim tried to help, but quickly realized something was off with the man, and went inside to call police, he said.
Uninvited, Diaz followed him into the home, and when Vinsonhaler stepped back into the yard, the man pulled out a large knife and slashed him across the face, according to the victim. Vinsonhaler said he attempted to fight back, but was stabbed repeatedly in the head and face.
Witnesses to the attack dialed 911, with one onlooker telling dispatchers that Diaz appeared to be trying to saw off the other man's head with the knife, according to police.
Officers arrived and called out to Diaz to drop the knife, Tasing him when he refused. The suspect was taken into custody, later telling investigators the murder was pre-planned, and that he had purchased the knife that morning with "for the sole purpose of trying to kill someone," according to prosecutors.
Court records show that Diaz had spent time in prison after being convicted of two felony counts of aggravated battery in 2008. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison, but was released on parole just four months before the attack on Vinsonhaler.
Officials have said Diaz is mentally ill, with a judge ruling in December that Diaz was unfit to stand trial. That decision was later reversed, with Diaz being allowed to move forward to trial.
Idaho law does not allow for an insanity defense, meaning that Diaz could still be convicted of the charges even if a jury believes he was in the throes of mental illness when the crime occurred.
Judge Jonathan Medema on Tuesday set Diaz' trial to begin Oct. 30. If found guilty, he could face up to life in prison.