State officials address concerns after murder suspect's escape

Zuccaro was recaptured Wednesday night by State Police about 12 miles away on McWhorter Road in southern Harrison County. He apparently evaded the manhunt up to that point by hiding in and moving through forested areas, according to State Police Lt. Michael Baylous, who added that the investigation continues.

The 16 patients had been taken to the courtyard for a fresh air break when Zuccaro moved diagonally to the wall and began climbing it, according to Adler.

A support team trained to handle such incidents was called immediately and pursued Zuccaro, according to Adler. A 911 call was made at 4:25 p.m. Monday, or within 10 minutes of the approximate time Senior Trooper A.N. Alton has alleged Zuccaro escaped.

Though they were unable to catch up to him, support team members used handheld radios to alert oncoming law enforcement where Zuccaro was headed, according to Adler.

The courtyard area had no video surveillance, according to Adler.

And “since this is a psychiatric facility, not a prison, there is not razor wire or electric fence installed,” she said in an email response to questions from The Exponent Telegram.

Zuccaro had been at Sharpe for behavioral health testing in the 2013 Brooke County shooting death of 30-year-old Jason Pratz.

There apparently may be other options for mental health evaluations.

Lawrence Messina, communications director for the state Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety, said the Division of Corrections has a mental health unit at the Mount Olive Correctional Complex for male inmates and a behavioral health unit at the Lakin Correctional Center for female inmates.

Additionally, the Division of Corrections has a diagnostic unit at the Northern Correctional Center, according to Messina.

The regional jail system is not involved in behavioral health evaluations, although it does look for issues such as suicidal tendencies during the intake screening process, according to Messina.

Psi-Med is the provider for behavioral health services for inmates, and provides general behavioral health services for the state’s regional jail system, according to Messina.

The Division of Corrections wasn’t involved in the Zuccaro case, Messina wanted to stress.

And Adler wanted to point out that Sharpe hospital isn’t a prison.

“Patients, whether forensic (criminal case) commitments or civil commitments, are court-ordered into our psychiatric facilities,” Adler wrote. “The facility has no choice but to accept these patients due to the court order. The hospital treats patients based on their diagnosis, not their forensic or civil status.”

It’s also important to note that when mental or neurological testing of a suspect is conducted by the defense or the state, the other side often wants a second opinion. And, that might be done with a civilian psychologist or psychiatrist.

For instance, Harrison County homicide suspect Sidney Muller, also being held at the North Central Regional Jail, is scheduled to travel to Huntington late this month for an evaluation by Huntington forensic psychiatrist Dr. Bobby Miller, a civilian mental health professional. Muller’s lawyers are using a defense that although he’s competent to stand trial, his mental condition is a mitigating factor.

Another point to consider: Many — perhaps even most — defendants accused of serious crimes such as murder, rape and robbery receive competency evaluations at the request of their attorneys, meaning a busy workload for the state.

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s director of communications, Chris Stadelman, wrote in response to an Exponent Telegram request for comment that the governor “has confidence in (DHHR) Secretary (Karen) Bowling and the staff at Sharpe Hospital.”

“A review of the situation is already under way and they will be making changes they believe are appropriate,” Stadelman wrote.

He also stressed that “it’s important to note that Sharpe is a mental health facility, not a prison.”

As for the capture of Zuccaro, a tip from the public and video surveillance from a Jane Lew truck stop — located a few miles from where Zuccaro was caught — proved instrumental. The chase ended with State Police Sgt. J.M. Menendez tackling Zuccaro near a compressor station, with other troopers nearby to assist.

Zuccaro was being held Thursday at the North Central Regional Jail.

Bond on the new felony escape charge lodged against Zuccaro by Alton was set at $110,000 cash and $90,000 personal recognizance by Lewis Magistrate Roger D. Clem Jr.

Zuccaro is being held without bond in the Brooke County case.

Other departments who assisted in the manhunt: The U.S. Marshals Service, the Lewis and Harrison sheriff’s departments, Weston Police, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, and the West Virginia National Guard, which supplied a helicopter.