Spokane Washington

The insane killer who walked away from a county fair field trip arranged by his Washington state mental hospital says he didn't plan his escape.

Phillip Arnold Paul told KXLY-TV he saw an opportunity at the Spokane County fairgrounds and took it. He was on the run for three days before he was arrested Sunday near Goldendale and returned to Eastern State Hospital.

In the interview Wednesday, Paul said he hid in woods where he used to camp, and he expected to be caught. He says he wouldn't try to escape again.

Paul was committed to the mental hospital in 1987 after he was acquitted by reason of insanity for killing a 78-year-old woman.

Hospital CEO Harold Wilson has resigned.

The head of a Washington state hospital has resigned in the wake of the escape last week of a criminally insane man who stayed on the run for three days.

Eastern State Hospital CEO Hal Wilson announced his resignation on Wednesday. He has contended the mental hospital did everything according to policies and procedures, despite widespread criticism from some hospital staffers and local law enforcement.

Patient Phillip Paul escaped from hospital custody during a trip to the Spokane County Interstate Fair with 30 other patients last week.

He was committed to the hospital in 1987 for the slaying of a Sunnyside woman.

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