Police and deputy sheriffs are looking for a patient with a violent history who was reported missing from the Hawaii State Hospital in Kaneohe on Sunday.
Police said Randall Saito, 59, left the hospital at about 9 a.m. Sunday and failed to return at 11 a.m. that day.
Saito was acquitted by reason of insanity for the July 1979 murder of a 29-year-old woman.
It’s unclear whether he has privileges to leave hospital grounds unescorted.
Court records indicate a circuit judge denied a motion in 2015 to allow unescorted off-grounds passes for Saito from the hospital. He was also denied discharge or conditional release in 1993.
Records also indicated Saito had unescorted on-grounds privileges at the State Hospital.
When asked whether Saito has unescorted off-grounds privileges, Janice Okubo, Department of Health spokeswoman, said, “We cannot give out information on specific patients because of state and federal laws that prohibit us from releasing information on a patient at the State Hospital.”
Generally, Okubo said, patients at the hospital earn privileges to move around campus without an escort based on the progress they’ve made.
In an unprovoked attack on July 31, 1979, Saito was accused of shooting Sandra Yamashiro, who was returning to her car, which was parked next to Saito’s, at Ala Moana Center.
According to court records, Saito shot her with a pellet rifle. He then approached her and repeatedly stabbed her with a knife.
Diagnosed with sexual sadism and necrophilia, Saito has been committed to the State Hospital since 1981.
He is described as 6 feet tall with a heavy build. He has black hair and black eyes.
This is the second time this year a patient from the State Hospital has been reported missing.
Rhegan Kinoshita was reported missing from the hospital on the morning of Sept. 26. Police found him in Kaneohe that day.
Court records said Kinoshita was acquitted of third-degree assault and committed to the State Hospital in June in lieu of prosecution.
In an emailed statement, state Health Director Dr. Virginia Pressler said, “The Hawaii State Hospital staff takes all escapes seriously and has safeguards in place to minimize the chances of these from occurring. A thorough investigation is now underway to gather more details to identify areas of improvement.”
Anyone with information on Saito’s whereabouts is urged to call 911, state sheriffs at 586-1352 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300. Individuals are advised not to approach Saito because he is considered dangerous.
