Patient slips away from psychiatric hospital for a few hours
by South Jersey News Online
Monday December 10, 2007, 8:39 AM
WINSLOW TONWSHIP, N.J. (AP) -- For the second time in four months, a patient with a violent past has escaped the state-run Ancora Psychiatric Hospital in Winslow Township.
Authorities say DeWitt Crandell Jr. was found naked along some railroad tracks in Hammontown about 2 to 4 hours after he left the grounds Sunday.
Crandell killed his parents with a hunting knife in 1996, but was found not guilty by reason of insanity. In 2001, he was moved to Ancora from a more restrictive hospital.
After another patient escaped Ancora in September, authorities agreed to do a better job of notifying neighbors. But the system was not activated this time.
Should we in Hammonton be worried about the happenings at Ancora and should we be part of the notification system, even though it was not activated this time. What steps should Hammonton take in dealing with this situation.
This is really a sad situation that in a matter of a few months two dangerous criminals have escaped. Our chief and or mayor should have been notified. Ancora needs an overhaul.
