14 DAY TRIAL // Amanda Bynes started a small fire in the driveway of a woman she didn’t even know, a neighbor of her parents, and then walked ways. She’s been placed on an involuntary hold pending mental evaluation, with a new report saying she’s showing signs of schizophrenia.
As we also noted earlier today, the former actress, who had moved to New York to pursue a career as a fashion designer, had traveled back to California, presumably to spend time with her parents or friends.
No one knows with certainty what prompted the most recent outburst, but, while she’s on the 5150 hold, she has not yet been charged with a crime.
TMZ is now saying that her problems might be more serious than anticipated.
“Amanda Bynes is exhibiting signs of schizophrenia and medical professionals and others WILL seek a 2 week extension on her 5150 psychiatric hold so doctors can properly diagnose her, sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ,” the e-zine reports.
Moreover, TMZ goes on to say, Bynes’ parents are looking into getting a conservatorship, which would put them in charge of important matters in her life.
According to Bynes, she had severed all relations with them because they were too nosy and were leeching off her.
“Amanda's parents will now ask a judge to put the 27-year-old in a conservatorship, a la Britney Spears, because they believe she is unable to care for herself and could be a danger to others,” TMZ says.
“Amanda's parents have wanted to take action for the past couple of months – but they didn't have the goods because Amanda's conduct was not so over the line that a judge would take away her freedom,” the report further notes.
TMZ also obtained surveillance video of Bynes right after the incident (you can see it embedded below), showing her walking into a liquor store in an apparent state of panic.
As noted earlier, Bynes drenched her puppy in gasoline when she started the fire. She was trying to rinse the poor animal with something when she went into the store, but eventually walked out without doing so.