DHHS says man accused of ‘targeted auto pedestrian crashes’ in Salt Lake County is competent to stand trial

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The man accused of intentionally targeting random women in several auto-pedestrian accidents

in Salt Lake County may be returning to court. Pham was found incompetent earlier this year, but a new report says that has changed.

Anh Duy Pham, 28, was charged with nine counts of attempted murder, six counts of failure to remain at an accident involving serious injury, and three counts of failure to remain at an accident involving injury.

In July 2025, Pham was found incompetent to stand trial and committed to the Utah State Hospital in August under the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). He has remained there since to help “restore competency” before proceedings continued.

Today, the court held a competency review hearing, and DHHS filed a certification of competency. Before Pham is officially able to resume court proceedings, the judge will have to make a ruling on his competency.

To complete the certification of competency, a forensic evaluator met with Pham, and her findings were reviewed by the clinical director at the Utah State Hospital, who signed and certified that Pham is competent to stand trial.

According to the forensic evaluator, she believes that not only is Pham competent to proceed, but that “it is likely that he is feigning competency-related impairments.”

The evaluator noted that previously, a July 2024 evaluation concluded that Pham was experiencing auditory hallucinations, delusional and grandiose beliefs, and paranoid beliefs. He also told the previous evaluator that he was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, but reportedly could not say who had diagnosed him.

Months later, in November 2024, another evaluator found that Pham did not have any behaviors that indicated hallucinations. While at the Salt Lake County Jail, Pham was found to be “a danger to others” and placed on involuntary antipsychotic medication.

While the July 2024 evaluation found Pham incompetent to proceed, the November 2024 evaluator expressed concern that Pham was “feigning and/or exaggerating symptoms” during interviews and found him competent to proceed.

After being found incompetent to proceed and being admitted to the Utah State Hospital, the evaluator writes that Pham “has not exhibited symptoms of psychosis” during his two months there. She says that he has “consistently denied mental health symptoms.”

Pham was diagnosed with bipolar type schizoaffective disorder by a doctor at the hospital. The evaluation says that during therapy sessions, Pham has asked what will happen if he “never gets competent” and how he can “reduce his charges and/or sentences.”

During the current evaluator’s meetings with Pham, she found that he has “the capacity to understand” the charges and allegations brought against him, the range of possible penalties, and the adversarial nature of the proceedings.

He was also found to be capable of communicating facts, events, and states of mind and able to make decisions regarding legal strategies. The evaluator determined Pham would be capable of behaving appropriately in the courtroom and testifying regarding his case if required.

Even with her belief that Pham may be acting purposefully ignorant or exaggerating symptoms regarding his competency, the evaluator found that his aggressive behavior had been reduced, and he is not exhibiting signs of mental illness.

The doctor found Pham competent to proceed in the court case.

Another competency review hearing has been set for Nov. 6, 2025, where the judge may make a court ruling on whether Pham is now competent to proceed.