Another patient killed in violence at Patton hospital

A 50-year-old patient at Patton State Hospital was killed by another mental patient in a fight -- the third such slaying at the San Bernardino facility in the last 14 months, police said Thursday.

Steven Alan Jenkins suffered head trauma in the fight about 9 p.m. Oct. 26, according to a news release by the San Bernardino Police Department. Hospital staff broke up the fight, but Jenkins was later found dead in his bed, police said.

Police on Thursday arrested William M. Nall, 24, on suspicion of murder and booked him at the West Valley Detention Center

The coroner’s office determined that none of Jenkins’ long-term medical problems contributed to his death, police said.

It was unclear whether a weapon was used, Jenkins had received any medical treatment or staff members were aware of the extent of his injuries before allowing him to go to bed.

Police would not elaborate on the news release, referring questions to the hospital. Patton officials and a spokeswoman for the state Department of Mental Health, which oversees the hospital, declined to comment or even confirm the incident. They cited confidentiality restrictions and the ongoing investigation.

The violence comes as state mental hospitals face heightened scrutiny. After investigating civil rights violations in the system for four years, federal prosecutors in May filed a consent decree in federal court that called for sweeping reforms under a court-appointed monitor.

The decree outlined a detailed prescription to prevent suicides and assaults, reduce the use of seclusion and restraints and offer more personalized care to the system’s 5,000 patients.

Shortly after the consent decree was filed, U.S. Justice Department investigators also released specific findings about Patton State Hospital, stressing among other problems high rates of patient-on-patient violence.

Last year, there were two homicides at Patton among patients, the first since 1994. Another patient committed suicide in January, the facility’s third since 2003.

Patton predominantly houses severely mentally ill people referred by the criminal courts.

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