Hospital escapee granted release

By Christie Wilson
Neighbor Island Editor

WAILUKU, Maui — Benjamin Andrion, whose escape from the Hawai'i State Hospital in 2000 ignited criticism of state officials for not releasing information on the missing patient, has been granted conditional release to a group home in Kane'ohe.

Andrion, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, was committed to the State Hospital more than 20 years ago after his acquittal by reason of insanity for the March 27, 1980, fatal stabbing of his 63-year-old mother and the wounding of three other family members.

He previously was living in a group home in the community, but was recommitted to the hospital in September 1999 after failing to follow a treatment program and getting drunk.

On Oct. 23, 2000, Andrion ran away from the hospital but returned on his own two days later.

At a hearing Wednesday, acting Maui Circuit Judge Rhonda Loo approved a Department of Health plan to place Andrion in a different group home where he will receive 24-hour supervision. County prosecutors did not oppose the move.

"He'll be very strictly monitored and under a lot of supervision. That was the main concern of all the parties," attorney Dana Ishibashi, representing the Health Department, said yesterday. "The people who will be supervising him are well aware of his mental condition and will be able to detect whether anything is going amiss, especially with his medication and behavior."

Andrion does well when he takes his medication and has not been involved in any violent incidents since he was first committed to the State Hospital, Ishibashi said.

Andrion, an Army veteran, will be making daily visits to Tripler Hospital to participate in treatment and programs offered by the Veterans Administration, he said.

Health officials pledged to do a better job of advising the public of future escapes.