Man Accused in Fatal Stabbing of Conroe Doctor Returned to Jail After Mental Health Treatment

Miles Fridrich, who faces charges for the fatal stabbing of Dr. Talat Khan last year, has returned to the Montgomery County Jail. The return follows a judge's determination of his incompetence to stand trial earlier this year, leading to an order for psychiatric treatment at a state hospital, as indicated by court records.

Fridrich, 26, was moved last week from the North Texas State Hospital in Wichita Falls after a bench warrant was issued by 9th State District Court Judge Phil Grant in September. Fridrich was admitted to the facility in March following concerns raised by his defense attorneys, Lisa Andrews and Cary Hart, regarding his competency, which led to a request for a forensic mental health evaluation.

Court documents reveal that Andrews referenced Fridrich’s “mental health history and erratic behavior” in the days preceding Khan’s killing on Oct. 28, 2023. Khan, 52, was discovered with fatal stab wounds outside the Alys Apartments, located in the 15000 block of Mansions View in Conroe. Before joining Texas Children’s Pediatrics in Conroe, she spent 15 years practicing at Sea Mar Community Health Centers in Seattle.

Fridrich was taken into custody soon after the incident while attempting to escape the area and was subsequently charged with first-degree murder in January 2024. A trial date has yet to be established. The Texas Attorney General’s Office, having assumed prosecution duties following Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon's recusal in June, has chosen not to provide any comments regarding the next steps in the case.

Ligon stepped back from the prosecution after Khan’s family raised concerns regarding the breadth of the initial investigation, especially regarding the possibility that the murder could have been driven by bias. Ligon later stated that investigators, which included the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, and the Conroe Police Department, had not uncovered any evidence that would support a hate-crime classification.

Saqib Khan, brother of Dr. Khan, expressed to reporters in 2024 that the family sought clarity instead of conjecture. “We are not suggesting any of that,” he stated. “Our desire is for a clear and open inquiry, allowing the truth to emerge as the findings are revealed.” If any discoveries emerge in that context, we should reveal them accordingly and evaluate the case on the merits of the facts.

According to Texas law, individuals deemed incompetent to stand trial are added to a forensic admissions list for treatment at a state hospital and are brought back to court when they are deemed restored to competency. Fridrich is currently held at the Montgomery County Jail as the legal proceedings continue.

This week, the court has yet to set a new hearing date to assess Fridrich's current competency to move forward with the trial.