A 34-year-old Mountain View man arrested in connection with a fatal stabbing Tuesday in the Eden Roc subdivision of Puna escaped from the Hawaii State Hospital in Kaneohe, Oahu, in 2009 and may have been on the lam since, according to court records.
A 34-year-old Mountain View man arrested in connection with a fatal stabbing Tuesday in the Eden Roc subdivision of Puna escaped from the Hawaii State Hospital in Kaneohe, Oahu, in 2009 and may have been on the lam since, according to court records.
Mark True Seal was committed to the mental hospital after being acquitted by reason of insanity in 2002 for the kidnapping and attempted first-degree sexual assault of an underage girl on Maui. He reportedly escaped in early December of 2009.
The last hearing on Seal’s case, according to court records, was on Dec. 10, 2009. On that date, Maui Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza denied a request by the state Department of Health to rule on a motion authorizing the involuntary administration of medication, ruling that an emergency hearing would be set when Seal was back in the custody of the health department. There is no record of such a hearing having been held.
Police Capt. Robert Wagner of Hilo Criminal Investigation Division said he didn’t know if Seal has been at large from authorities since 2009 but added “it does appear that he is an escapee, yes.”
A Wednesday morning call to Mark Fridovich, the state’s mental health chief, was not immediately returned.
Seal had not been charged as of late Wednesday morning. He was being held in the Hilo police cellblock.
Police responded about 3:20 p.m. Tuesday to a report of a stabbing on Pilo Street in the Eden Roc subdivision. Upon their arrival, they found an unresponsive 32-year-old man suffering from multiple stab wounds, according to police. He was pronounced dead at 11:11 p.m.
The victim’s name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, according to police.
Anyone with information on the case should contact Detective Dean Uyetake at 961-2379 or duyetake@co.hawaii.hi.us or Detective Joel Field at 961-2381 or jfield@co.hawaii.hi.us. Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 329-8181 in Kona or 961-8300 in Hilo. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.