Experience the perplexing and shocking tale of Leonard Patton, a Minnesota drifter who committed a horrifying murder in Huntington Harbour in 1994. After a car collision, Patton viciously bludgeoned Jessica Uniack more than 20 times, ending her life in a gruesome manner.
However, justice took an unexpected turn as Patton was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Instead of facing prison, he was sent to a state mental hospital, leaving many puzzled and frustrated.
Fast forward to the present day, Orange County Superior Court Judge Erin Rowe faces the decision to release Patton to an outpatient facility, with conditions. The hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 21, and Patton will be represented by the public defender’s office.
Originally, the plan was for Patton to be released to Leisure Towers Guest Home in Orange. Unfortunately, Uniack’s son, Alex, revealed that Patton’s bed at the facility was revoked.
This is not the first time Patton has been sent to Leisure Towers. In 2006, he was briefly released but was soon brought back to a locked hospital due to multiple violations. Investigators discovered that Patton had purchased a tool resembling a knife from an auto parts store, raising concerns about his potential for violence. A search of his room at the guest home uncovered a stockpile of tools with knife blades and sharp objects, reinforcing the belief that he is a danger to society.
Deputy District Attorney Kimberly Wah has outlined further violations committed by Patton, providing a strong argument against his release. According to her brief, Patton has failed to demonstrate any significant changes that would warrant trust in his ability to comply with outpatient release.
Alex Uniack, Jessica Uniack’s son, expressed his concerns about the potential risks involved in Patton’s release. He lives within 5 miles of the outpatient facility where Patton previously resided and stated, “It seems like a pretty big gamble to take with everybody else’s safety.”
Bill Uniack, Jessica Uniack’s brother, shared his worries about Patton’s previous pattern of repeating his misdeeds. He firmly believes that the disadvantages of releasing Patton without proper supervision outweigh any potential benefits.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer vehemently opposes Patton’s release, emphasizing his opinion that Patton remains an extremely dangerous individual. Spitzer asserts that his office will fight against both the public defender’s office and the psychiatrists advocating for Patton’s conditional release.
Dr. Stacey Berardino, associated with the Orange County Health Care Agency and the conditional release program, declined to comment on Patton’s case due to patient confidentiality constraints.
The circumstances surrounding Patton’s arrest and subsequent confinement highlight the severity of his condition. His own family expressed relief when he was apprehended, as they had struggled to have him committed to a mental health facility prior to the tragic killing.
According to the prosecution’s opposition brief, Patton acted under the influence of voices in his head on December 8, 1994. These voices compelled him to board a plane from Minnesota to Los Angeles. Upon arrival, he rented a car and engaged in a minor accident with Jessica Uniack on Pacific Coast Highway in Seal Beach. Tragically, Patton escalated the situation, violently attacking and killing Uniack when she exited her vehicle to exchange information. He callously disposed of her body in her car and proceeded to drive to a nearby hospital. After abandoning the vehicle, he stole a truck and was eventually apprehended by police in Newport Beach.
Before arriving in Orange County, Patton traveled to Canada, where he attempted several purse snatchings. As a result, he was sent to a psychiatric hospital but failed to adhere to his medication regimen.
Patton’s life has been marked by an ongoing cycle of confinement in mental hospitals. Presently, he resides at the Sylmar Health and Rehabilitation Center.
Given his previous failed release to Leisure Towers in 2006, prosecutors argue that Patton does not deserve another opportunity. There are doubts surrounding his willingness to take medication and whether the oversight provided would be sufficient. The previous release allowed Patton to leave the facility unsupervised during the day, returning only at night.
The opposition brief also highlighted a lack of additional or stricter supervision plans under the state’s Conditional Release Program this time around. The prosecution firmly asserts that nothing short of keeping Patton locked in a psychiatric facility can prevent him from fleeing.
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