WEDNESDAY UPDATE:
Bail has been set for an Arkansas State Hospital worker jailed after leaving her workplace with a committed patient last month, records show.
Michelle Messer, 42, of Sherwood was being held at the Pulaski County jail in lieu of $10,000 as of Wednesday afternoon, according to an online inmate roster. Her bail amount was set that morning in Pulaski County District Court.
Messer faces charges of aiding an unauthorized departure and furnishing a prohibited article to a patient.
Authorities say Messer and patient Cory Chapin, 46, left the State Hospital together March 20. They were found six days later in Nevada and arrested as fugitives.
ORIGINAL STORY:
An Arkansas State Hospital worker has been transported back to the state after leaving the facility with a committed patient late last month, authorities said.
Michelle Messer, 42, of Sherwood was booked into the Pulaski County jail shortly before 3 a.m. Tuesday, according to an online inmate roster.
Messer, an employee at the facility since 2011, faces a misdemeanor charge of aiding an unauthorized departure and a felony count of furnishing a prohibited article to a patient.
Authorities say Messer opened a door and had Cory Chapin, 46, follow her into a hallway and out the rear of the State Hospital on March 20.
After being found March 26 in Nevada, they were arrested as fugitives on out-of-state warrants and booked into the Clark County, Nev., jail.
It was not immediately clear whether Chapin had returned to the State Hospital’s care. His name did not appear in records for the out-of-state jail as of Tuesday morning.
Chapin was committed in 2015 after being acquitted of charges of attempted kidnapping and theft by reason of insanity or mental defect.
Court records show Messer had been questioned about how a cellphone and vaping machine had gotten into Chapin’s possession.
Messer has a court appearance set for Wednesday morning in Pulaski County District Court, according to the clerk’s office.
