Oregon State Hospital escape: What we know — and still don't — 2 weeks after manhunt
The escape of an attempted murder suspect from the Oregon State Hospital and resulting public manhunt have raised questions about hospital security and public safety. But state officials have so far refused to provide complete answers, saying the investigation is ongoing.
On Aug. 30, Christopher Lee Pray, 39, allegedly drove off the state hospital grounds in a stolen state van while in full restraints.
Late Friday, the Oregon State Hospital announced a federal surveyor had issued "immediate jeopardy" findings related to how the hospital secures its vehicles and said the hospital would be taking immediate steps to address those findings.
It did not detail the findings.
If it doesn't make improvements within 23 days, it could lose all federal Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements.
Pray came to the state hospital facing charges of attempted murder, assault, robbery, unlawful use of a firearm and felony possession of a weapon. He now faces 21 charges, including reckless driving and violation of parole.
He is being held at Multnomah County Detention Center awaiting a Dec. 14 case management hearing.
A 'fitness to proceed' hearing is scheduled for Sept. 19 to determine Pray's ability to aid his lawyer in his defense. Questions about that ability are why he was sent to the state hospital in the first place.
What we know
Oregon State Police and state hospital officials have declined to answer questions while the escape is investigated. No timeline for the completion of the investigation has been provided.
Court records show Pray has an extensive criminal history dating back to 2002. He has been convicted of 16 felonies, including unlawful possession of a weapon, robbery and assault.
On March 21, 2022, Pray allegedly robbed, assaulted and attempted to murder a Multnomah County woman by threatening her with a firearm at an AutoZone, according to his indictment.
On June 4, Pray allegedly used a nail gun to assault a woman he was living with in Portland. He then fled their apartment. Officers attempted to pull Pray over, but he would not stop, according to court records. He was charged with reckless driving and fleeing a police officer, among other things.
In July, a warrant was issued for his arrest, but he was not immediately taken into custody.
On Dec. 25, Pray allegedly assaulted the woman he lived with again and faced further charges.
On April 18, he was taken into custody. His bail was set at $27,500.
On Aug. 22, Pray was determined unable to aid his legal counsel in his defense. He was transferred to the Oregon State Hospital Aug. 30.
He was involved in a fight with another patient at about 6 p.m. the night of Aug. 30 and taken in handcuffs and shackles to Salem Health hospital for stitches in his lip and an x-ray.
Pray was then loaded back into the van and was in what state police said were "full restraints," shackles on his ankles, handcuffs and a belly band with chains tying them together.
A driver parked the van in front of the state hospital at approximately 10:45 p.m. and got out to assist Pray. That is when Pray "jumped in the driver's seat and drove off,” according to an Oregon State Police report.
Oregon State Police said they were notified of the escape at about 10:45 p.m.
A call was made to Salem Police dispatch at about 11:13 p.m.
By 11:26 p.m., a pursuit by Keizer Police with the help of Salem Police ensued on southbound Interstate 5 at speeds of more than 100 mph.
At about 11:32 p.m., officers attempted to use tire spike strips to immobilize the vehicle near the Kuebler Boulevard exit, but the van already had passed that point. The chase was called off at 11:35 p.m. when the van reached the Delaney Road exit due to safety concerns.
The Oregon State Police sent out a public notice at 11:02 a.m. the next day, Aug. 31, notifying residents of the escape and requesting help in locating Pray. The notice described him as "extremely dangerous."
Oregon State Police sent this statement to the Statesman Journal when asked why it took nearly 12 hours to notify the public of Pray's escape: "OSP was not notified of the suspects criminal history and was involved in attempting to search for and safely take the suspect into custody. As our investigation revealed more information, we confirmed the information and made notification as soon as practical."
At 8:17 a.m. Sept. 1, Portland Fire & Rescue and the Portland Police Bureau were dispatched to a report of a potentially deceased person in a pond in Portland.
Rescue crews discovered a person alive, pulled the man from the mud in the pond and took him to a hospital. A nurse noticed he looked like the state hospital escapee.
Portland Police confirmed Pray's identity, as he had given a fake name to rescue crews and hospital employees, and he was again arrested.
What we don’t know
All outings outside of the hospital require an employee to fill out a form approving the trip unless a patient must be taken off the premises for an emergency medical situation.
A risk review by a psychiatrist or other licensed medical professional for each patient establishes approved outings and patient-to-staff ratios for trips outside of the hospital, according to state hospital policy.
It is unknown how many employees helped transport Pray from the state hospital to Salem Health and back.
His case may have been considered an emergency medical situation, so pre-approved staff-to-patient ratios may not have been considered.
The Statesman Journal initially reported that Pray had assaulted an employee to gain control of the van based on information provided by the state hospital, but Oregon State Police reports do not mention any assault.
It's unclear how Pray obtained the key to drive off in the van, and it is not known how and for how long he operated the vehicle while in full restraints.
Friday night, the Oregon State Hospital announced they had received "immediate jeopardy" findings from a federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services surveyor and they would be taking steps to immediately address the findings.
According to a hospital news release, the surveyor cited issues related to the "secure medical transport of patients."
"We are taking steps right away to reduce the possibility that an unauthorized leave could occur during transport and potentially put themselves, staff or members of the community at risk," OSH superintendent Dolly Matteucci said in the statement.
According to the release, hospital administrators will provide a plan of action early next week.
It is also unclear how Pray was able to rid himself of the handcuffs, belly band and ankle shackles.
The state police have not disclosed how or why Pray got stuck in the mud in a Portland pond.
Sydney Wyatt covers healthcare inequities in the Mid-Willamette Valley for the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions, and tips to her at SWyatt@gannett.com, (503) 399-6613, or on Twitter @sydney_elise44
The Statesman Journal’s coverage of healthcare inequities is funded in part by the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, which seeks to strengthen the cultural, social, educational, and spiritual base of the Pacific Northwest through capacity-building investments in the nonprofit sector.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon State Hospital escape: What we know 2 weeks after manhunt
