As reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, Dr. Mark Patterson provided testimony indicating that he had diagnosed Dharmesh Patel with major depressive disorder featuring a single episode of psychotic features and anxious distress. Patel had disclosed experiencing auditory hallucinations and a pervasive sense of being followed in the weeks leading up to the tragic incident. Patterson detailed Patel’s state of mind as one marked by paranoid and delusional thinking, which ultimately led him to perceive a grave threat to his family’s safety. Patel, driven by these distressing beliefs, took drastic action, driving his white 2021 Tesla Model Y off a cliff in what he perceived as an act of protecting his loved ones from potential harm.
In response to Patterson’s testimony, the court gained insight into Patel’s mental state and the factors that influenced his actions on that fateful day. Patterson’s account portrayed Patel as grappling with profound psychological disturbances, which manifested in alarming delusions about the safety of his family. Prosecutors have levied serious charges against Patel, accusing him of three counts of attempted murder for his alleged intentional endangerment of his wife and two children. The testimony underscores the complexity of the case, as legal proceedings aim to reconcile the tragic outcome with Patel’s mental health struggles and the circumstances surrounding the incident.