The Associated Press is reporting that John Hinckley Jr., the man who tried to kill President Ronal Reagan on March 30, 1981 outside a Washington hotel, will be released into his mother’s care next month.
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“Contrary to the judge’s decision, we believed John Hinckley is still a threat to others and we strongly oppose his release”, it said in a statement.
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has granted a request for Hinckley to leave the mental hospital where he’s resided for decades, to go live full-time with his elderly mother in Williamsburg, Va.
He ruled Hinckley could be released a government psychiatric hospital in Washington as soon as August 5, subject to conditions meant to ensure he is adequately monitored. For each visit, the U.S. Secret Service will provide Hinckley’s time of departure from Williamsburg as well as the intended travel route two weeks in advance, the court says.
In all, there are 34 conditions for Hinckley’s release from St. Elizabeths Hospital, which result in his daily life being heavily scheduled and controlled. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
The 1981 attack also badly wounded US Secret Service agent Tim McCarthy and local police officer Thomas Delahanty.
Doctors have said for many years that Hinckley’s mental illness was in remission, and Friedman concurred in his ruling. Hinckley acted to impress actress Jodie Foster, with whom he was obsessed.
Since 2006, Hinckley has “successfully completed” more than 80 unsupervised visits to his family in Virginia, with “two minor exceptions”, the court document states.
He will have to live with his mother for a year, limited to a 50-mile radius from Williamsburg. He also said that if Hinckley’s mother becomes unable to monitor him in her home, either his brother or sister will be required to live there with him until the hospital determines an alternate plan.
If he adheres to strict guidelines regarding his activities, Hinckley could be fully removed from court control in as soon as a year.
Reagan was seriously injured when a bullet ricocheted off the presidential limosine and hit him in the chest.
“Mr. Hinckley shall have no contact whatsoever with the following persons: Jodie Foster or any member of her family, any member of former President Ronald Reagan’s family (including descendants)”, writes Friedman.
Reagan, who had emergency surgery after the shooting but was back to work within a month, died in 2004 at age 93.
Some of his mother’s neighbors have always been wary of Hinckley.
Judge Paul Friedman ruled Wednesday that John Hinckley Jr.is ready to live in the community.
“I hope the doctors are right when they say that John Hinckley isn’t a danger to anyone, but something in me feels they are wrong”, Ms Davis said in a post on her website in April past year.
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But unless he violates the conditions of his leave, he won’t return to St. Elizabeths, despite opposition by prosecutors to greater freedom for the would-be assassin.
