Attempted Ax Murderer Gets 13 Years

A Santa Barbara man who in June destroyed his next-door neighbor’s home and tried to ax him to death was sentenced Tuesday to 13 years in state prison and ordered to pay an undetermined amount of restitution. Police estimated the property damage at over $100,000. Rudy Collaso (pictured) was previously sentenced to 12 years in state prison for a 1996 voluntary manslaughter out of San Diego County. He was deemed incompetent to stand trial in his Santa Barbara case and sent to Patton State Hospital, but was “restored to competency” and pleaded guilty to the charges.