State mental hospital worker slain on hospital grounds by patient

[Liberal_in_LA]

State mental hospital worker was robbed, strangled
Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer

(10-26) 11:53 PDT NAPA -- A psychiatric technician slain at Napa State Hospital, allegedly by a mentally ill patient, was strangled and robbed of jewelry, less than $2 in cash and a pack of gum, authorities said today.

Donna Gross, 54, of Concord was attacked by Jess Willard Massey, 37, in a courtyard on the grounds of the hospital Saturday evening, said Capt. Tracey Stuart of the Napa County sheriff's office.

Gross was returning from a dinner break when Massey killed her and robbed her of jewelry, the small amount of cash she was carrying and gum she had just bought from a store, Stuart said.

Gross' watch, two necklaces and a pair of earrings were found in Massey's room, and the pack of gum was found in the suspect's ward, Stuart said.

An autopsy conducted Monday by the Napa County coroner concluded that Gross died of asphyxiation due to strangulation, Stuart said. Gross, a 14-year hospital employee, was not sexually assaulted, authorities said.


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/10/26/BAVV1G27U2.DTL&tsp=1#ixzz13UhzukUB

[elocs]

1. Sad, but the mentally ill are far more likely to be the victims of crime than the criminals. n/t

[angstlessk]

2. Heck, if I WORKED at a mental hospital and wanted to murder someone

say a co-worker I hated, was jealous of, who had broken my heart,was threatening me with sexual harassment charges, I would drug a patient...then after the murder plant evidence in his room!