Special Judge Russell Hall denied bond Tuesday morning for Christian Costello, who’s held in the Sunday stabbing death of his father, Oklahoma Labor Commissioner Mark Costello.
It’s the first court appearance for Christian Costello, who appeared at the 11 a.m. hearing by way of a video link from the Oklahoma County Jail. The hearing took less than 60 seconds and Costello said nothing other than giving his name.
Hall told Costello once he has an attorney, he can request a rehearing on the bond issue. He said they’re waiting on the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office to file charges, and that he has a 10-day limit to do so. Once charges are filed, a court date will be set and Costello will be appointed a public defender.
During a news conference Monday, Oklahoma City Police spokesman Paco Balderrama said it's going to take time to present the case to the Oklahoma County District Attorney.
"You know it's not as simple as it looks simply because we have lots of witnesses and a crime scene," Balderrama said. "Sometimes it's actually more complicated because there are so many people involved. So it's going to take a few weeks at least to put this thing together."
Costello is being held on a complaint of first-degree murder after the attack at a northwest Oklahoma City restaurant. Police say he met his parents Mark and Cathy Costello there when the encounter turned violent and Christian Costello attacked his father.
Family spokesman Joshua Harlow said yesterday the younger Costello has struggled with a “mental health disease.” Costello acknowledged in court documents in 2012 he had received in-patient treatment for an undisclosed mental illness. The statement was entered as part of a plea agreement in a driving under the influence of drugs case from 2012.
Mental Health Association Oklahoma’s executive director Mike Brose told KWGS Public Radio Tulsa there’s still a stigma attached to the mentally ill that’s not associated with having a physical ailment.
“It doesn’t respect socioeconomic status. It doesn’t respect skin color, ethnicity,” Brose said. “It affects every family.”
A source familiar with Costello’s mental health records told The OklahomanCostello had been diagnosed as a schizophrenic, with paranoid beliefs about his parents:
"He thought they were conspiring against him, that they were out to destroy him," the source said. Two years ago, in June 2013, Christian Costello complained to police his father hacked his cellphone causing it to do "weird things," according to a police report. He and a girlfriend also claimed they had found a tracking device in their car. He called his father very controlling and said his father "always wants to be in charge and know what's going on." He also complained in 2013 his father had stopped giving him funds, possibly because his father didn't like his girlfriend. "No matter what anyone says, if I'm in love, no one will tell me who I can and can't date. I love her," he is quoted as saying in the police report.
On Monday the family also announced funeral services for Mark Costello. Harlow said a rosary and mass will take place Friday and Saturday at St. Monica's Catholic Church in Edmond. Gov. Mary Fallin said during a state Capitol news conference Monday she had spoken with Cathy Costello, who asked for privacy and prayers for her family.
“And I also add, and I think we need to continue to keep in prayer the people who were at the scene last night,” Fallin said.
The governor described Mark Costello as a true public servant, who drove his own vehicle to save the state money, and even donated a portion of his salary back to the state. The governor's office says a special election won't be held to fill the labor commissioner's post. State law dictates the governor appoint someone to complete the remainder of Costello's term, which ends in 2018.
Fallin's spokesman Alex Weintz says there's no deadline for the governor to name a replacement, and Fallin isn't considering candidates yet out of respect for Costello. Oklahoma's labor commissioner is responsible for enforcing minimum-wage and child-labor laws. Fallin said flags on state property will be flown at half-staff to honor Costello's memory.
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