Wash. officials plan briefing to explain new steps after killer’s escape from hospital outing
By APFriday, October 2, 2009
Wash. officials to explain changes after escape
SPOKANE, Wash. — Washington state officials are planning a news conference Friday afternoon to announce new precautions they’re taking after a schizophrenic killer escaped while on a field trip.
Phillip Arnold Paul walked away from the Spokane County Interstate Fair last month while on an outing with a group from Eastern State Hospital. He was recaptured three days later.
The 47-year-old was committed in 1987 when he was found not guilty by reason of insanity for killing a 78-year-old woman.
After Paul’s escape, the Department of Social and Health Services ordered an immediate end to patient field trips and launched an investigation into the practice.
The union that represents hospital workers said it had expressed concerns about the types of patients included in public outings.
