Criminally Insane Killer Escapes during "field trip" to state fare in Spokane

[SuziQ]

I'm wondering how he was deemed criminally insane to begin with. When he killed his neighbor, he doused her with gasoline before he buried her to throw off scent dogs. Voices or not, he knew what he did was wrong. This guy should be in prison.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Phillip Paul's disturbing past revealed

KREM 2 has looked through more than 200 pages of early court documents that describe what mental health experts have been saying about Phillip Paul over the years, including his brutal murder.

Phillip Paul is one of six children; he went to North Idaho College for a year before a wrestling injury forced him to drop out.

His mother says, it was only a year before the 1987 murder, the Paul showed any signs of schizophrenia, but by the time medical professionals met Paul just a year after the murder, they called him extremely dangerous.

More: http://www.krem.com/news/local/stories/krem2-091909-medhistory.19642f974.html?npc


Some interesting comments on this link here, too.

 

[SuziQ]

The current legal test for criminal insanity is if the defendant knows right from wrong. He knew right from wrong and did it anyways. If hiding a body and doing things to throw off the investigation isn't proof he knew right from wrong, I don't know what is.

There are alot of people in prison who say God or the Devil told them to do it. Maybe the legal test was different at the time of the conviction?

http://www.krem.com/news/local/stories/krem2-091909-medhistory.19642f974.html?npc

(snip)
Doctors concluded he didn't understand right from wrong, and just wanted to get rid of the voices. Paul was acquitted by reason of insanity and the judge sent him to Eastern State hospital in Medical Lake.

 

[Boyz_Mum]

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/sep/18/hospital-workers-supervisors-knew-within-minutes/

Hospital CEO Hal Wilson said that Paul, 47, was not a serious threat to public safety and that a “treatment team” of mental health professionals approved his participation in the field trip.
“We don’t consider him extremely dangerous,” Wilson said. “Although we would certainly like to have him apprehended and back in custody.”
He could not explain the delay in notifying police that Paul had slipped away from staff at the fair.
“I don’t have a good answer at this time,” Wilson said, adding that the secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services, Susan Dreyfus, had ordered an investigation into the incident. (end of snip)


The article contains quotes by an employee of the hospital and he basically says that the employees have questioned these outings in the past. In this snip of the article, it tells how the trip was approved, they want Paul back in custody but when asked why the delay in notifying police, the CEO of the hospital says, "I don't have a good answer at this time."

Hello? CEO... why don't you have a good answer at this time? Should we wait a few more days and give you a chance to think of a good answer??? If this is how the hospital is run, I hope there's one heck of an investigation!

ETA: Paul claimed to have a girlfriend and child (the records show the child is in state custody according to the article), have there been any interviews or mention of the girlfriend's whereabouts?

 

[:+:MrTT:+:]

It appears the original "48 hours" statement has now been changed to "14 days". I wonder if they are just saying that to keep the public calm, or if the original was a misunderstanding?


Search still on for escaped killer, medication may keep him stable

Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich has asked the state's Inmate Recovery Team to join the search for an Eastern State Hospital patient committed for murder who escaped from facility staff during a trip to the Spokane County Interstate Fair. The sheriff's helicopter is also involved in the search for Phillip A. Paul. Deputies say Paul is mentally unstable and could attack without provocation.

They say the chances of an attack increase the longer Paul goes without medication. The Department of Social and Health Services says Paul receives his medication by injection, and it keeps him stable for 14 days. DSHS says doctors gave paul his last injection Tuesday or Wednesday.

http://www.khq.com/Global/story.asp?S=11151502

from what i can tell from reading different reports, that 14 day period, is under control environment.......they don't know, or are not telling, whether or not the medicine will last and have the same effect in a non controlled environment for 14 days, it could be 7 or sooner or even later, but 14 seems to be the cut off period, where they start to become concerned about what happens next. .....so, its unpredictable, his behavior, that is why the search has intensified.

they tried it before, at the motel in downtown, and something happened, that brought him back to the hospital, though because of patience doctor privileged, that information has not been released, as far as i know.

(deleted)

i believe the hospital is telling more to LE, then the public is being in formed on........I think the level of LE activity in this case, speaks volumes, as far as the possible risk his absent presents to the public.
And so far, LE behavior in there search, has me believing that a real concern for the public's safety is a major concern.

ALL MOO
​

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Hello? CEO... why don't you have a good answer at this time? Should we wait a few more days and give you a chance to think of a good answer??? If this is how the hospital is run, I hope there's one heck of an investigation!

Respectfully snipped. Boyz_Mum, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for an answer. I can't remember if I posted the article, but one article I read said that Eastern State expected to have a "preliminary" report within 15 DAYS. And a more developed report within 30 days. I guess if a criminally insane murderer escapes, they need over 2 weeks to even think about putting a report together.

Another article I read stated that Eastern State did everything "by the book". A comment on that article stated that if that is true, it may be time to rewrite the book. Ya think?!

 

[nomad]

Hello, I haven't read everything, but that myspace is creepy, those statues and carvings...it's pretty spooky that he's so normal and not a bad looking fella, he plays the guitar, and some girl might befriend him and little by little she'll start seeing how dangerous he is. I hope they catch him immediately...

 

[Boyz_Mum]

.

Another article I read stated that Eastern State did everything "by the book". A comment on that article stated that if that is true, it may be time to rewrite the book. Ya think?!

Respectfully snipped Idaho4Groenes.

I totally agree with you about "the book". If "the book" says it's normal (or good) practice to let 31 criminally insane "prisoners" go on a field trip with only 11 chaperones, "the book" needs revision. If "the book" says it's good to let a ciminally insane murderer stay in an apt. and let his boundaries be expanded, again, IMO "the book" needs to be revised.

I'm praying that Eastern State is the only hospital/institution who follow "the book". Hopefully other hospitals/institution have a revised copy.

This is all my opinion, when using the term "criminally insane", I am not trying to paint all clients of the hospital with the same broad brush. I am using the term only in reference to Paul, at this time.

I'm very bothered if the rumors of "experimental treatment" are true, while none of us may know what "experimental treatment" means in this case, it could be an experiment regarding the release of a murdering schizophrenic into the public or it could be about controlling these 14 day or 48 hour medications that Paul is on (I don't know which medication schedule is valid, it's been mentioned differently in the media), there are probably a variety of experiments that could be done. I'm also bothered by the rumors of lawsuits that people have commented that Paul has initiated. Did he sucessfully sue the hospital for his being raped? Did he sucessfully sue a drug company? Are these "experimental treatments" for real? So many questions and not enough answers to give the public comfort. I realize that HIPPA regulations prevent a lot of information from being released and HIPPA is a good thing, but when a prisoner escapes, it would be real nice if the information could be consistent?

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Investigators say Paul planned to escape

A patient from Eastern State Hospital, judged criminally insane, has been missing from Spokane County since Thursday, and now law enforcement across the U.S. is looking for him.

Spokane County Sheriff's Sergeant Dave Reagan says Phillip Paul went to the Spokane County Interstate Fair with extra clothing.

When investigators went back to Paul's room after he escaped all they found were a few socks.

The rest of his clothes were gone.

http://www.krem.com/topstories/stories/krem2-091809-patient-escape-day-2.191907e9f.html


Okay so...on top of everything else, no one noticed that he was wearing or carrying a bunch of extra clothing?

ETA:

When Paul escaped on Thursday, he had a backpack and $50 with him. Sgt. Reagan says it is possible Paul planned ahead for a possible escape.

http://www.kxly.com/global/story.asp?s=11162458 (Pic of him with short hair at the link)

 

[Xcop1951]

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-...o-the-county-fair-escaped-killer-on-the-loose
Seriously who takes an insane killer that nearly severed a lady's head to the county fair? Even if he hadn't tried to escape how many things they can be used as weapon? Several thousand at least. I'm calling for someone to get fired, and if this guy kills someone before he's captured again, someone needs to be prosecuted for reckless endangerment!

 

[Kimster]

They just had a report on this man on our local station in Eugene, Oregon. They said his medication is going to start wearing off soon and will cause him to be more dangerous.

Yikes!

 

[barb0301]

Respectfully snipped.

Another article I read stated that Eastern State did everything "by the book". A comment on that article stated that if that is true, it may be time to rewrite the book. Ya think?!

I'm wondering who wrote the book? The patients?

 

[wonders]

I take it they haven't found him yet? TIA.

 

[KaylynnCouture]

I take it they haven't found him yet? TIA.

That's what I'm wondering. This is ridiculous...:furious:

 

[SuziQ]

Sheesh, wtf? Those people need to go to jail.

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/59936647.html

(snip)
Knezovich told "Good Morning America" co-anchor Bill Weir that Paul had pre-ordered freeze-dried food before his getaway.

"We have information that he actually contacted people outside of Eastern State Hospital and asked them if they'd order the food for him, and so he could pre-station that food in various locations," Knezovich said in an on-air interview.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Sheesh, wtf? Those people need to go to jail.

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/59936647.html

(snip)
Knezovich told "Good Morning America" co-anchor Bill Weir that Paul had pre-ordered freeze-dried food before his getaway.

"We have information that he actually contacted people outside of Eastern State Hospital and asked them if they'd order the food for him, and so he could pre-station that food in various locations," Knezovich said in an on-air interview.

This is getting rediculous. This is a mental facility. Shouldn't they be monitoring calls and figuring out if patients pack back-packs are full of clothes before taking a field trip? No, I don't think that ALL patients should be treated this way. Because not all of them are criminals. But, perhaps they should be a little more careful with the ones that are murderers with a history of escape.

 

[SuziQ]

This is getting rediculous. This is a mental facility. Shouldn't they be monitoring calls and figuring out if patients pack back-packs are full of clothes before taking a field trip? No, I don't think that ALL patients should be treated this way. Because not all of them are criminals. But, perhaps they should be a little more careful with the ones that are murderers with a history of escape.

With the lack of supervision and the obvious carefree rules, it makes me wonder about patient on patient crime. I wonder how much of that is swept under the rug and covered up?

 

[kgeaux]

This is getting rediculous. This is a mental facility. Shouldn't they be monitoring calls and figuring out if patients pack back-packs are full of clothes before taking a field trip? No, I don't think that ALL patients should be treated this way. Because not all of them are criminals. But, perhaps they should be a little more careful with the ones that are murderers with a history of escape.

Maybe hanging out with the criminally insane rubs off on the workers? I can't think of any other reason this man would have been allowed to go on a
field trip---especially to a place like a state fair! (They never heard of museums?) To find out that his phone calls were completely unmonitored and that he apparently has contacted people to have them order freeze-dried food for him and NOT ONE of those people contacted the hospital and told them this guy is planning an escape?

If this asylum did everything "by the book" then I'm one with the poster who asked if the inmates wrote the book. The rules and regulations must be tightened up immediately----I hope and pray this man does not commit murder again before he is caught, but the public has been inexcusably put in danger. AGAIN.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-...o-the-county-fair-escaped-killer-on-the-loose
Seriously who takes an insane killer that nearly severed a lady's head to the county fair? Even if he hadn't tried to escape how many things they can be used as weapon? Several thousand at least. I'm calling for someone to get fired, and if this guy kills someone before he's captured again, someone needs to be prosecuted for reckless endangerment!

Welcome to Websleuths, Xcop!!!!! And thanks for posting!

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Authorities Searching for escaped killer in Goldendale Wash.

Authorities are searching for Phillip A. Paul, who escaped from an Eastern State Hospital field trip to the Spokane Co. Interstate Fair, in the area around Goldendale, Washington.

50 to 60 law enforcement officers are in a wooded area near Goldendale searching for Paul. The group is made up of members of the Spokane County Sheriff's Office, The FBI, U.S. Marshals and the Yakima County SWAT Team.

The Spokane County Sheriff's Office helicopter has also been searching the area all morning. Unfortunately the helicopter's thermal imaging camera which detects body heat cannot function in high temperatures during the day and authorities will probably have to wait until nightfall to use it.

The Spokane County Sheriff's Office received what they are calling a "reasonable tip" late Saturday night and believe Paul is in the area.

http://www.khq.com/Global/story.asp?S=11164495