MARINETTE, Wis. (WBAY) - The man charged in the drowning death of a 13-year-old boy with autism made an initial appearance in Marinette County Court on Monday.

The defense requested a competency hearing. Tylor Birch, 21, is charged with 2nd degree reckless homicide for the death of Jakob Bowerman.

A criminal complaint says Birch and a 16-year-old admitted to throwing Jakob in the water at a Marinette pier last month, despite knowing he couldn’t swim.

In court on Monday, the judge granted the competency evaluation for Birch. A hearing is scheduled for October 29.

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