The Stuff that Movies Are Made Of.

Meet John Stroud, escaped mental patient last seen about 50 yards from my home!  He was staying at the Heath Nursing Care Center, which is just down the street.  Apparently he was staying in the facility's "psychiatric unit."  This place is like your traditional nursing home-full of the elderly with varying degrees of abilities and disabilities & illnesses.  No one knew that there was, in fact a "psychiatric unit" let alone that this Stroud guy was a patient there.  The chief of police here in Heath is PISSED OFF!  He says that he should have been notified of this man and I agree with him.  

The problem is that Stroud has a violent past.  (Not to mention that he is bat-shit-crazy)  He was on bond at the nursing facility awaiting trial for charges of attempted murder and several other charges.  His crime was committed in Southern Ohio.  Everyone is questioning why he was in a facility up here.  My bet is Heath Nursing Center is the first place who would take him.  Its no secret that administrators of skilled nursing facilities are told to "FILL THOSE BEDS!" I still think that an Indicted felon with a history of psychosis, suicidal, mood disorder, delirium and alcoholism, should not be housed with senior citizens.  We have a plethora of better capable facilities in the state of Ohio.  

Stroud escaped from his room around 4:30am today.  He was last checked on at 4:20am.  An employee came back at 4:40am to find that Stroud was gone and his window was broken out.  Here is an aerial view of the facility, where he was last seen and proximity to where I live.

The white arrows represent where some railroad tracks and the local city park are.  Stroud is being reported as an avid outdoorsman.  Authorities are thinking that he won't have a problem spending the night outside if he has to.  (Its supposed to get down to 37F tonight)

There have been helicopters searching the area and ground patrol but so far nothing.  The last sighting of Stroud was around 5am.  The police chief and school superintendent closed school today.  I wonder if Stroud is not found tonight if they'll close school tomorrow?  

It will be quite interesting to see how this turns out.  Especially considering the chief of police is extremely pissed that this man was in a nursing facility without his knowledge.  It will also be interesting to see if the nursing facility administration is held liable for this.  Hopefully Stroud is found without hurting anyone.  They have said that he is suicidal and feels that he has nothing to lose.  Not a good frame of mind to be in! 

**UPDATE**  They found him 17 hours after his escape.  He ended up being 2 miles away.  Scioto County Sheriff's Department came to pick him up.  The guy looked so weak, etc., that I'm not so sure why he was considered so dangerous.  I don't think the man could've fought his way out of a wet paper sack.