A Bridgeport man accused of drowning his infant daughter at a motel in Milford last summer has been found not competent to stand trial.

Dale Kirkland is charged with murder with special circumstances, murder and risk of injury to a minor in the death of his 3-month-old child. But on Tuesday, a forensic evaluator from the Connecticut Department of Mental Health testified in Milford Superior Court that Kirkland doesn't understand the legal proceedings against him and can't assist in his own defense.

Mark Simoniello said a team of three mental health professionals came to a unanimous conclusion after conducting a two-hour court-ordered competency evaluation on Kirkland in December. Simoniello told the judge Kirkland struggled with catatonic mannerisms and word latency, leading the group to diagnose him with catatonia, a syndrome that can accompany psychotic or depressive disorders.

“Mr. Kirkland was unable to follow a thought through and on several occasions, he would begin a statement—very slowly, I would add—and often stop speaking with just a lengthy vacant stare,” Simoniello stated.

Simoniello also testified the team agreed on something else.

“There is a substantial probability that he can be restored to competency,” Simoniello said. He explained they recommended a 60-day stay at Whiting Forensic Hospital, a state-operated inpatient psychiatric facility.

During questioning by Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Howard Stein, Simoniello confirmed the team's conclusions don't pertain to Kirkland's mental capacity on any date prior to the evaluation. That includes the day his daughter died.

At the end of the hearing, Judge Kevin Russo adopted the competency report’s findings and recommendations. Kirkland will be transferred to Whiting Forensic Hospital in Middletown in hopes competency can be restored. He’s due back in court after the 60 days where his mental capacity will be reevaluated at a hearing set for March 4.

Kirkland had no reaction to the proceedings Tuesday just as he hasn't at every court appearance since his arrest on Aug. 21. That morning, Milford police responded to the Mayflower Motel after a member of the cleaning staff discovered an infant girl in the bathtub of a vacated room “completely submerged underwater,” according to Kirkland’s arrest warrant. Police said initially, the staff member noticed baby clothes, bags and a car seat had been left behind. Then, when she went into the bathroom, she found the little girl inside a child’s bathing tub inside the tub. She was wearing a onesie and had no visible signs of trauma, according to the warrant.

Police said first responders attempted lifesaving measures on scene, but the infant was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Surveillance video confirmed Kirkland checked into the motel the night before with his daughter and brought the same child's bathing tub she was later found in, according to the warrant. It also said when Kirkland checked out, he wore sunglasses and a black mask. He was taken into custody several hours later in Bridgeport after a brief manhunt.

Family court records show that at the time, Kirkland had filed for full custody of his daughter and cited the mother's health. Kirkland said he'd notified the Department of Children and Families of the situation. DCF officials confirmed they had been involved with the family for about a month before the baby’s death and are conducting an investigation into what happened.

Kirkland was initially charged with cruelty to persons and risk of injury to a minor, but had his charges upgraded in November after the medical examined ruled the infant was intentionally drowned.

Kirkland is being held on $1 million bond. He has no prior criminal record.