An Orleans Parish judge determined that a man accused of killing a Loyola alumna in 2007 is now mentally competent to stand trial after two years of treatment at a high security mental hospital.

Police arrested Erik William Traczyk, 38, and charged him with the murder of Nia Robertson Aug. 15, 2007. She graduated from Loyola in 2004 with a master’s degree in mass communication.

Traczyk was charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.

According to a homicide detective’s testimony, patrons saw Traczyk walk up to Ryan Pasternak, a Children’s Hospital pediatrician, as he sat at the bar talking with a friend, wrap his arm around Pasternak’s neck, then stab him in the neck.

According to an investigating officer’s testimony, witnesses said Traczyk walked to the front door, paused, then turned around and walked toward Robertson, who was sitting at the bar as well, and did the same thing to her.

Traczyk had no connection to either victim.

Robertson died during emergency surgery at University Hospital later that night. Pasternak survived the attack.

Traczyk has a history of mental illness dating back to 2000, according to doctors. Court documents show he suffers from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, paranoid personality disorder and paranoid schizophrenia.

The judge ordered Traczyk be forced to take more antipsychotics daily in order to ready him for trial, and doctors called as expert witnesses said now Traczyk understands fully the nature of his charged crimes, that his lawyers are there to help him in his defense, and that he could face the death penalty if convicted.

Traczyk changed his plea from guilty to not guilty by reason of insanity two months ago. Traczyk’s next court appearance will be a hearing on prosecutorial motions to furnish documents outlining the process by with mental health professionals are hired by the Eastern Louisiana Mental Health System Forensic Division and any documents pertaining to Traczyk’s mental health from the past until now. It will be held Dec. 4.

ROBERTSON’S SPIRIT LIVES ON
Although it has been two years since Robertson’s death, she continues to have an impact on the Loyola community. After her death, Robertson’s friends and family created the Nia Robertson Memorial Scholarship in her honor. The scholarship is granted each year to a mass communication student from the New Orleans area interested in social causes.

This year, the recipient was mass communication senior Lourdes Fulton, who received the award at the Public Relations Society of America New Orleans chapter awards banquet Nov. 3.

According to Nia Robertson’s mother, Marvel Robertson, Nia Robertson’s friends from Loyola contacted the family about creating the scholarship in 2007. She thought the scholarship would be a great tribute to her daughter.

“She had a great affinity and love for Loyola,” Marvel Robertson said. “We wanted to keep her spirit alive by helping out the education of another student.”

Of the things Marvel Robertson remembers about her daughter, she emphasized her ability to relate to all types of people.

“She made you feel special,” Marvel Robertson said. “I had so many people come and tell me, ‘She made me a better person.’ She made people instantly feel comfortable.”

Marvel said she and her family hope to move past Traczyk’s trial and onto a better chapter in their memory of Nia.

“We’re just hoping to get the trial over with … so we can focus on positive things about Nia,” she said.

Masako Hirsch contributed to this report. She can be reached at [email protected]. Jean-Paul Arguello can be reached at [email protected]