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Police say murder suspect fled hospital before killing parents

Hospital Safety Connection, July 28, 2003

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Authorities believe a man being evaluated July 15 by mental health workers at Oswego (NY) Hospital fled the facility, drove to his parents' home, and killed them with a claw hammer, the Syracuse Post-Standard reports.

Police had left Joseph Blake, 48, with staff in the Oswego Hospital emergency room. Blake managed to get away to his Oswego apartment, then drove his car to his parents' home in Granby, where he broke in and bludgeoned them to death. Blake was arraigned the next day on two counts of second-degree murder and one count of second-degree burglary.

The state Office of Mental Health launched an investigation to determine how Blake escaped from Oswego Hospital after hospital staff examined him. At some point that evening, the staff concluded Blake posed a danger to himself and others, but it was unclear when this determination was made, Sheriff Reuel Todd said.

Two police officers brought Blake to the hospital after he was in an altercation with a social worker who was visiting him. The officers stayed at the hospital for about 90 minutes until hospital staff were satisfied that Blake was under control, said Oswego Police Capt. Michael Dehm. A short time after that, Blake left the hospital without telling the staff he was leaving.

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