Friday, June 22, 2007
YOUNGSTOWN — Vincent Roberts, 36, who three years ago in a rage severely beat his mother with a dining room chair, escaped Friday from Heartland Behavioral Healthcare Center in Massillon.
Roberts’ attorney at the time of his trial said Roberts believed his mother was a robot — because when he hit “the thing,” oil came out. Charged with attempted murder, felonious assault, aggravated burglary and attempted aggravated burglary, the Austintown man was found innocent by reason of insanity by Judge Maureen A. Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on May 18, 2005.
Roberts was sent to the Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare System’s Northfield Campus in Cleveland where he was to be kept 10 years. A doctor at Forensic Psychiatric Center of Northeast Ohio determined that, among other things, Roberts suffered from schizophrenia and unspecified personality disorders. Roberts had been at Heartland Behavioral in Massillon since last month. The Ohio State Highway Patrol said Roberts was outside “on privileges” about 5 p.m. Friday when he ran away in an easterly direction toward Perry Township.
For more, see Saturday's Vindicator and Vindy.com