Overview
- On Monday a San Mateo County judge dismissed all three attempted murder counts after reports showed Dharmesh Patel completed a two-year mental-health diversion program that the court had ordered in 2024.
- Prosecutors say Patel drove his Tesla off Devil’s Slide on January 2, 2023, with his wife and two young children inside and that all four miraculously survived the roughly 250–300 foot plunge.
- Patel entered diversion after a judge found he suffered from major depressive disorder with psychotic features and he spent two years under strict supervision that included GPS monitoring, residence limits, regular psychiatric and family therapy, drug testing, and surrender of travel documents.
- After the dismissal Judge Sharon Cho returned Patel’s passport, lifted a no-harassment order for his family, and ordered the case sealed while the Medical Board of California separately confirmed Patel surrendered his California medical license in December.
- San Mateo prosecutors, led by District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe, oppose diversion for attempted murder and are working with lawmakers to change the statute because the law requires charges to be dismissed when a defendant completes the approved treatment plan.