On Saturday a friendly neighbor of mine, Susanne L. Thompson was stabbed to death few blocks from her Fan District home at Heartfields Assisted Living at 501 N. Allen Ave. As usual, she was in the process of taking her dog for its morning walk.
You see, I know it was her routine because I’ve seen her — we always exchanged friendly greetings — walking her little black dog a thousand times. But this time, according to a front page story in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, my 70-year-old neighbor had the misfortune of encountering a man with a knife, a history of mental illness and a propensity toward violent criminal behavior.
The source also said suspect Johnny F. Hughes, 52, was charged with attempted murder in the mid-1990s but was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
Court records indicate that Hughes was convicted in June of carrying a concealed weapon. He was sentenced to seven months in jail, with six months suspended.
The court ordered Hughes to take anti-psychotic medicine, the source said, and he was to be monitored by the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority. Attempts to reach the authority yesterday were unsuccessful.
Less than five months after his conviction, Hughes encountered Susanne L. Thompson on Saturday shortly before 9 a.m. as she walked her dog on West Broad Street near the Department of Motor Vehicles’ main offices. Moments later, she was dead, stabbed multiple times with a large pocketknife.
Click here to read the entire story.
Given his history, why Johnny F. Hughes was on the street Saturday morning, and not in a facility that looks after dangerous people with his troubles, is a question that should be asked. Then, following what is sure to be an unsatisfying answer, the next question should be about how many other people just as dangerous are wandering Richmond’s streets, because — due to drastic budget cuts — they are no longer being looked after by doctors at state institutions.
Update: A vigil for the late Susanne Thompson is planned for Thursday evening, visit WotB News for the details.
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