After weighing testimony from two court-appointed psychologists, Sixth Judicial Judge Michael Cuzzo found 1980 U.S. Olympic “Miracle on Ice” hockey star Mark Pavelich to be “mentally ill and dangerous” and ordered him into civil commitment at a secure state facility.
Cuzzo’s ruling came on December 4.
On August 28, Pavelich, 61, was arrested at his Lutsen home for allegedly assaulting a neighbor with a metal pipe after the two had come off a lake from fishing. Pavelich accused James T. Miller, 63, of “spiking his beer” as the reason for attacking him. Miller was transferred to the hospital, where he was found to have a bruised kidney, two cracked ribs, and a fractured vertebra.
A complaint was filed against Pavelich, alleging he had committed assault in the second degree, assault in the third degree, and that he owned a firearm with a missing or altered serial number.
On October 28, Judge Cuzzo found Pavelich to be mentally incompetent to stand trial, and he was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation. Duluth psychologist Dr. Chris Bowerman met with Pavelich twice in September.
Dr. Bowerman said it was her opinion that Mark suffers from “Unspecified neurocognitive disorder, and from Post-traumatic stress disorder and delayed expression with secondary psychotic features.” Pavelich, she said, has “serious and persistent mental illness,” and he is “mentally ill and dangerous,” given the serious nature of the alleged crime.
During his time with Dr. Bowerman, Pavelich stated that he was a victim of attempted poisoning by his family, friends, and neighbors. Since 2015 he had gotten back at those folks who were allegedly trying to harm him by damaging their property.
In the court papers, Dr. Bowerman noted that Pavelich indicated he would be justified in harming another person to the point of death if he believed his life was in danger.
Pavelich, said Bowerman, “has a complete lack of insight into his mental illness and would not be successful in less restrictive alternative treatment options because of his denial of his mental illness, delusions, and paranoia.”
Dr. Jacqueline Buffington examined Mark and found him to suffer from “Mild neurocognitive disorder” due to traumatic brain injury likely related to a series of head injuries sustained over a lifetime.
Dr. Buffington also diagnosed: “Post-traumatic stress disorder” and “some cognitive disturbance,” adding that during an interview, Pavelich responded irreverently at times and “struggled to find words to express himself.”
“He believes he has been poisoned, and friends and family have damaged his property,” said Dr. Buffington.
Following the Olympics, the New York Rangers drafted Pavelich. He played for his Olympic coach, fellow Minnesotan Herb Brooks. Mark also played hockey professionally overseas, eventually moving to Lutsen, where he met and married Cara Burmacheck. He and Cara lived a quiet life. Cara died in 2012 after falling from the couple’s second-story deck. Mark, who had been married earlier to another woman and had a child, never remarried after losing Cara.
The judge’s finding that Pavelich is “mentally ill and dangerous” means he may get sent to the Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter.
Once he has been committed, healthcare professionals will have 60 days to create a treatment plan for Pavelich; the treatment plan must be filed with the court. If Mark has improved, he will go to trial on the felony assault charges.
In his order, Judge Cuzzo determined, “As a result of his mental illness, he presents a clear danger to the safety of others and has engaged in an act causing or attempting serious physical harm to another.”
“There is a substantial likelihood that he will engage in acts capable of inflicting physical harm on another in the future.”
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