Aurora suspect James Holmes sent his doctor burned money

Doug Stanglin, USA TODAY | USATODAY

CENTENNIAL, Colo. — James Holmes, the suspect charged with the shooting spree at an Aurora theater that left 12 people dead and as many as 57 injured, mailed burnt currency to his University of Colorado psychiatrist, according to court testimony on Monday, KUSA-TV reported.

Holmes, who faces 166 counts of murder, attempted murder and other charges related to the shooting, was making his first appearance in court since he reportedly rammed his head into a wall at the Arapahoe County jail. The incident in November forced the postponement of an earlier hearing.

Holmes, 24, sat silently during Monday's proceedings, sporting a full beard, the Associated Press reported.

Three people testified in an Arapahoe County courtroom about the contents of a package mailed to University of Colorado psychiatrist Lynne Fenton, who was seeing Holmes before the July 20 shooting.

Holmes had been a doctoral student in neuroscience at the University of Colorado-Denver, but was in the process of withdrawing after scoring poorly on spring exams.

The commander with the CU Police Department testified he was the first person to examine the package, which was described as a bubble envelope with a spiral notebook inside, KUSA reported.

The package, which came to light following the killings at a midnight premiere of a Batman film, was opened by a deputy with the Adams County bomb squad. Inside the package was burned currency and ashes.

Police Chief Doug Abraham testified that he shook the envelope and touched the notebook without gloves, which he admitted was a mistake.

According to court testimony, Fenton received a phone call from the public defender's office saying Holmes sent her a package and that "he wanted it back."

Abraham said that the call alerted authorities to the presence of the unopened package in the campus mailroom.

He made the disclosure in a hearing in which defense attorneys were trying to determine who told Fox News that the package contained a notebook with writing that detailed violent plans, the AP reported.

Holmes' attorneys contend the disclosure violated a gag order.