Mental Exam For Fugitive Pilot

The Indiana investment manager accused of trying to fake his death to avoid a fraud investigation will undergo a mental exam.

Marcus Schrenker, 38, appeared in federal court for the first time on Thursday. He arrived just before 8:30 a.m. in a dark van with blacked out windows. Schrenker, who is in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service, pleaded not guilty to charges that he made a false distress call and intentionally crashed his airplane.

U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson granted a defense request for a mental evaluation as well as a medical exam without objection from prosecutors, but he pointed out that Schrenker has a Master's Degree.

During Thursday's arraignment, the pilot, who investigators say parachuted out of his airplane over North Alabama and let the plane crash near a neighborhood in Milton, Florida, was very quiet. He wore a green jump suit from the Escambia County Jail, flip-flops and shackles on his feet, and Schrenker only spoke when the prosecutor asked his name, birthday and other routine questions for the record.

Schrenker waived his detention hearing, which was originally scheduled for Monday, so he will remain in custody, but his attorney, Tom Keith asked to reserve the right to request another detention hearing in the future.

According to the Judge Vinson, the Bureau of Prisons will ultimately decide where Schrenker will go for the evaluation, but he suggested it could be a federal detention center in Miami. Results from the exams are due within 45 days.

Schrenker's trial is tentatively set to begin April 13th, but that will likely change due to a conflict with Keith's schedule.