APNewsBreak: Report cites lax security at mental hospital

Investigators tasked with assessing security at Western State Hospital determined there were no routine inspections; 25,000 master keys were missing; thousands of tools used to open patient windows had been misplaced; and management was unwilling to recognize that failing to focus on security puts patients and the public at risk, according to a report obtained by The Associated Press in response to a public records request.

"Western State Hospital remains laser-focused on ensuring safety, security, active treatment, quality care and meeting the requirements set by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services," Strange said in a statement.

Garver was charged with murder in the 2013 killing of a woman who was tied to a bed and stabbed to death.

Since arriving at the hospital in 2014, he was known for his violent outbursts, primarily against women, the report said.

When a security officer went to the ward after the escape to inspect the window, maintenance staff were already repairing it and refused to stop to allow photos or an inspection, which hampered law enforcement efforts to learn what had happened, the report said.