BARTOW, Fla. (WFLA) — State prosecutors want their psychologist to be able to again interview Bryan Riley, the quadruple murder suspect who, they say, did not answer questions about his mental state at the time of the murders.

“The state’s expert asked the defendant to speak specifically about what happened on the day of the offense and during the commission of the offense and he would not answer those questions,” said prosecutor Lauren Perry during a motion hearing Wednesday.

Perry said it would be “beneficial” to have the answers to those questions so the psychologist could have a “more full understanding” on whether Riley was sane at the time.

Riley is accused of fatally shooting four members of a Lakeland family, including a baby, and injuring a child in Lakeland in 2021.

Riley, a Marine, did not know the family but claimed a girl, who did not exist, was inside in need of help.

His attorneys are preparing a “not guilty by reason of insanity” defense for the trial scheduled next spring. If found guilty, Riley would face the death penalty.

Ahead of the trial, psychologists and other experts, hired by both sides, conduct and analyze interviews with Riley.

Both attorneys acknowledged in court Wednesday, Riley did not answer certain questions from the state’s expert during a 4-hour interview in April.

“It was what happened after the first shots, essentially. We’re into the event itself on this line of questioning,” said public defender Jay Hendry.

Hendry said the state’s expert told Riley he did not have to answer if he did not want to, as long as he had not answered similar questions before.

“Mr. Riley indicated that he had not been asked or answered those questions previously. The doctor did not push any further. He said, ‘that’s fine’,” said Hendry. “Our position is that he has complied with a full evaluation.”

The state is asking for their expert to get another chance at that portion of the interview.

“Given the parameters that the doctor set out, that are legally wrong, he complied,” said Judge Kevin Abdoney. “There’s nothing to really compel at this point in terms of that evaluation. There was nothing he refused to do that he wasn’t told rightly or wrongly that he could refuse to do.”

The issue is expected to be addressed again at a status conference scheduled for next week.