Hamilton police looking for two patients who fled from St. Joe’s
Hamilton police are looking for two patients unlawfully at large from St. Joseph's Hospital, including a man found not criminally responsible due to mental illness for the stabbing death of his father.
Police are looking for Thomas Harpula and Shannon Kingston, who are believed to have fled together on Monday in a 2014 white Jeep Compass with Ontario licence plate BWTV 569.
Kingston was reported missing from St. Joseph's West 5th Campus after she left the grounds around 9:30 a.m., police said. She was seen leaving in the Jeep Compass that police believe was being driven by Harpula.
Harpula is an outpatient at the hospital and lives in the community.
On Dec. 20, 2017 he stabbed his father, John Harpula, 98 times. He was living with his parents on Highland Road West at the time and later told psychiatrists that voices told him to seek salvation and everlasting life" by killing his dad.
Harpula was found not criminally responsible (NCR) due to mental illness and was initially held at St. Joseph's West 5th. At his first Ontario Review Board (ORB) hearing in 2019, the committee heard he was doing better, including responding to medication, and his delusions were less severe. However, at that time, he was still considered a significant threat to the community.
The ORB reviews NCR cases annually, with input from from psychiatrists, and would have agreed to his release to live in the community.
The 34-year-old is described as a white man, five-foot-nine and 313 pounds, with partially balding brown hair, a goatee and tattoos on one arm. He was last seen wearing a brown leather jacket, a black T-shirt, jeans and black and white high-top running shoes. He may also have a small black dog.
Kingston is described as a 27-year-old white woman, five-foot-six and 164 pounds, with a pale complexion, slender build and short red hair. She was last seen wearing a grey sweater, grey track pants and black shoes.
Police are asking anyone who sees Kingston, Harpula or the Jeep Compass to call 911. Do not approach them.
Anyone with information that could help police is asked to call 905-546-4925.
To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or crimestoppershamilton.com.
Nicole O'Reilly is a crime and justice reporter at The Spectator. noreilly@thespec.com