One of Two 'Dangerous' Patients Who Escaped Washington Psychiatric Hospital Caught

Mark Alexander Adams, 59, was found about 30 miles north of the hospital.

ByABC News
April 7, 2016, 1:23 PM

— -- One of the two mentally ill patients who escaped from a psychiatric hospital is now in custody after being spotted on a public bus after his escape, authorities said today.

Mark Alexander Adams, 59, was apprehended in Des Moines, Washington, about 30 miles north of Western State Hospital, where he and fellow patient Anthony Garver escaped Wednesday night.

The pair were last seen in the hospital's dining hall at 6 p.m. and hospital staffers learned they were missing at 7 p.m. and notified police.

Adams, who had been sent to the hospital to receive treatment on a domestic violence arrest, was spotted on a public bus at 10:30 p.m. "and inquired about how to get to the airport." When the first police reports about the missing pair were released, authorities believed that he may try to go to California.

PHOTO: Police in Lakewood, Washington released these images of Mark Alexander Adams who they say escaped from the Western State Hospital on April 6, 2016.
Police in Lakewood, Washington released these images of Mark Alexander Adams who they say escaped from the Western State Hospital on April 6, 2016.

Adams was apprehended in Des Moines "without incident," according to Lakewood Police Lt. Chris Lawler. Lawler did not say who recognized Adams but did say that he was spotted as a result of the media attention to the case.

Garver, 28, remains at large. He was arrested in 2013 for first-degree murder but was found not competent to stand trial. He is 5-foot-8 and weighs 250 pounds with brown, curly hair and a beard, authorities said.

PHOTO: Anthony Garver and Mark Alexander Adams are seen here in these undated file photo.
Anthony Garver and Mark Alexander Adams are seen here in these undated file photo.

Police say Garver was accused of gagging a woman with a ball of cloth and stabbing her 24 times in the chest before slashing her throat.

The investigation is ongoing.

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