Confined killer’s condition doubted
Prosecutor: Hospital trying to avoid costs
MOUNT VERNON, Wash. – A man sentenced to spend the rest of his life in confinement for killing six people, including a Skagit County sheriff’s deputy, is not mentally ill, two psychiatrists said in a letter leaked to a newspaper.
The Skagit Valley Herald reported receiving an unauthorized copy of a letter dated Jan. 8 written by two psychiatrists treating Isaac Zamora at Western State Hospital. In it, the psychiatrists say Zamora is severely psychopathic and poses a great danger, but that he is not mentally ill.
The letter also contradicts the argument offered in court that Zamora suffers from schizophrenia.
The psychiatrists say Zamora has bragged about killing six people and has shown threatening behavior that makes him a risk to other patients, staff and the public.
Zamora was sentenced last November to spend life confinement at a mental hospital, with a chance he may do so in prison if found mentally fit. He had reached a plea agreement with prosecutors, pleading guilty to 18 charges, including four murders, but not guilty on two murder charges for reason of insanity.
Zamora went on a spree Sept. 2, 2008, and killed neighbors in Alger, construction workers, a driver on Interstate 5 and Deputy Anne Jackson. He wounded four others.
Skagit County deputy prosecutor Rosemary Kaholokula said the letter’s intent is to help Western State Hospital avoid having to pay for Zamora’s care.
“They’re trying to get rid of him,” Kaholokula said.
An internal investigation at the hospital was launched after the letter leaked, as well as a state probe of possible violation of federal patient privacy rules.
The letter was a draft meant for internal purposes, and it was not ready to be released to the court or the public, said Richard Kellogg, director of mental health systems in the state health department.
It was not clear who the original recipient of the letter was, the newspaper said.
Zamora was admitted at the mental hospital in December.