MA Leonard Mercury, 57-year-old man missing, escaped from mental health facility hold

[VVolunteers]

Sharing this here as I haven't seen him talked about in a thread and wanting to spread awareness.
If I didn't post this correctly, please let me know, as I'm new to the community.

Photos and information about the case can be found here:
MISSING - Leonard J. Mercury | Solve the Case

 

[GraceG]

Welcome @VVolunteers Thanks for getting this one going. To start a thread and have it remain active you have to link to a mainstream media article and I am not sure what you posted would meet that criteria (though it has good info). So here are a couple of links, one from boston.com news and another from Boston Channel 25. He may also go by Leonard Cummins or John Cummins. He is 57 years old.

Man still missing 3 weeks after escaping Gardner hospital

A Massachusetts man is still missing three weeks after escaping from a Gardner hospital.

www.boston.com

Wife of man missing from hospital organizes search party, pleads for help

The wife of a man who has been missing for three weeks after escaping a Gardner hospital where he was being held for a mental health evaluation is organizing a search party Saturday.

www.boston25news.com

 

[VVolunteers]

Welcome @VVolunteers Thanks for getting this one going. To start a thread and have it remain active you have to link a mainstream media article and I am not sure what you posted would meet that criteria (though it has good info). So here is a link, He may also go by Leonard Cummins or John Cummins.

Man still missing 3 weeks after escaping Gardner hospital

A Massachusetts man is still missing three weeks after escaping from a Gardner hospital.

www.boston.com

Oh good to know! I appreciate that information, I will ensure I add an active link to a mainstream media article in the future!

 

[Bigditch]

Hi VVolunteers, can you tell me what a Section 12 mental health hold is?

 

[VVolunteers]

Hi VVolunteers, can you tell me what a Section 12 mental health hold is?

I'm not entirely sure, but multiple articles stated Section 12. I am wondering if that may just be what the Heywood Hospital calls their involuntary mental health hold? Since his wife had to call the authorities and they took him there to be watched/medicated for his previously diagnosed mental illness.

 

[Bigditch]

I'm not entirely sure, but multiple articles stated Section 12. I am wondering if that may just be what the Heywood Hospital calls their involuntary mental health hold? Since his wife had to call the authorities and they took him there to be watched/medicated for his previously diagnosed mental illness.

Do you know what his mental illness is? I mean it sounds serious. Police caution not to approach. I'd be afraid to help search for him if he's dangerous.

 

[VVolunteers]

Do you know what his mental illness is? I mean it sounds serious. Police caution not to approach. I'd be afraid to help search for him if he's dangerous.

I verified, it's Mass's involuntary 3 day hold.
The illness is not disclosed, but from another article he is happily married to his wife and helps her around the house a lot, so I am wondering if he may have gotten off his meds and they were in the process of getting him back on them at the hospital before he escaped. :/

 

[Eli9]

Hi VVolunteers, can you tell me what a Section 12 mental health hold is?

Just generally from google it's a 4 day hold where the patient can volunteer to inpatient care or a court may decide.

Also I just realized he's been missing for a month!

 

[Eli9]

Wife recalls empty Thanksgiving as month-long search for missing husband continues

It's been one month since Leonard Mercury, a 57-year-old Westminster man, escaped from Heywood Hospital while under a legal psychiatric hold. His wife is desperate for answers, clinging to hope as the search drags on.

www.masslive.com

La Guerre hired private investigator Dana Prestone of Rockwell Investigations a week after Mercury vanished. Communication with Gardner police has been sparse, she said Monday, adding that she hadn’t heard from the department since Nov. 25, when officers finally responded to her repeated emails containing tips she and Prestone had gathered.

 

[VVolunteers]

Just generally from google it's a 4 day hold where the patient can volunteer to inpatient care or a court may decide.

Also I just realized he's been missing for a month!

Yes! That's the sad part! There have been a few possible sightings in nearby areas but they still haven't managed to find him.
His family has a Gofundme to afford more PI work from Prestone. Hopefully they keep getting funds so they can keep looking and searching!

 

[Eli9]

Yes! That's the sad part! There have been a few possible sightings in nearby areas but they still haven't managed to find him.
His family has a Gofundme to afford more PI work from Prestone. Hopefully they keep getting funds so they can keep looking and searching!

Ok thanks. Don't post the funding site address here as that is against TOS. Welcome to WS!

 

[VVolunteers]

Ok thanks. Don't post the funding site address here as that is against TOS. Welcome to WS!

Good to know! It can be found in that initial link I shared, if anyone is interested in sharing it or contributing. <3