Not Guilty By Reason of INSANITY | How Violent Felons Trick Judges to Escape Jail

Eastern State Hospital in Williamsburg, Virginia holds a significant place in the history of mental healthcare in the United States. Established in 1773, it is recognized as the first public mental health facility in the country. Over the centuries, the hospital has evolved and adapted to changing societal attitudes towards mental illness, playing a crucial role in the treatment and care of individuals with mental health disorders.

The origins of Eastern State Hospital can be traced back to the 18th century when mental illness was largely misunderstood and stigmatized. At the time of its founding, the hospital was known as the "Public Hospital for Persons of Insane and Disordered Minds" and was intended to provide humane treatment for individuals with mental health conditions. The hospital was designed to offer a therapeutic environment where patients could receive care and support, rather than being confined to prisons or almshouses.

Above comment taken from the Eastern State Google Listing

Many criminals manipulate judges into alowing them to plead not guilty by reason of insanity so they can be placed in, what would appear to be a vacation resort to most any jail or DOC inmate when compared to the hard prison life they would normally be sent to.   

• Not only does Eastern State in Williamsburg Virginia provide dedicated computers for patients to use in the  ESH Library, they also offer free Wi-Fi access throughout the facility.
• Eastern State offers various amenities including a gymnasium, Chapel, recreational rooms, woodshop, therapeutic pool, hair salon and many others.

Eastern State is funded by tax payers and being used as a means for violent criminals that appear brighter than the psychiatrist doctors and judges that fall for their nonsense. The legitimate patients are the ones that suffer and placed with these violent criminals that worm their way into the hospital. 

The citizens also pay a huge price for the government's incompetence since the behavior is never corrected, the "patients" reoffend over and over, break into our cars and homes, some on purpose just so they can get back to the vacation resort.

Throughout its history, Eastern State Hospital has undergone numerous changes and advancements in the field of mental healthcare. In the early years, treatments were often rudimentary and focused on physical restraint and isolation. However, as our understanding of mental illness has evolved, so too have the approaches to treatment at the hospital. Today, Eastern State Hospital offers a range of evidence-based therapies and interventions to support patients in their recovery journey.

Eastern State Hospital has been the site of numerous escapes over the years, raising serious concerns about the safety and security of both patients and the surrounding community.

One of the most infamous escapes from Eastern State Hospital occurred in 1985, when a patient managed to slip past security and make his way into the nearby town of Williamsburg. The patient, who had a history of violence, went on a rampage, assaulting several individuals before being apprehended by law enforcement. This incident raised serious questions about the hospital's ability to properly secure its patients and prevent dangerous individuals from escaping.

Unfortunately, this was not an isolated incident. In recent years, there have been multiple reports of patients escaping from Eastern State Hospital, with some individuals managing to evade capture for days or even weeks. These escapes have put both patients and the community at risk, as individuals with mental health issues may not be in a stable state of mind and could potentially harm themselves or others.

In 2022, Bryce Marcus Wilkerson and Austin Preston Leigh both escaped from the hospital and caused damage to an interior wall in the process.  

Bryce Marcus Wilkerson and Austin Preston Leigh pictured above escaped from Eastern State in 2022

More recently in July of 2025, Glenn Jefferson Large Jr scaled a fence to make his escape. Large was convicted of murder in the city of Virginia Bach back in 1988 and has added several new charges over the next 30 years before ending up admitted to Eastern State. 

Glenn Large was caputured the following day, his updated mugshot is pictured below.

The fact that Eastern State Hospital has had multiple escapes over the years raises serious questions about the facility's policies and procedures. It is clear that there are significant lapses in security at the hospital, allowing patients to easily bypass safeguards and leave the premises. This lack of oversight is not only concerning for the safety of the patients themselves, but also for the safety of the community at large.

In addition to the security issues at Eastern State Hospital, there are also concerns about the quality of care provided to patients. Reports have emerged of overcrowding, understaffing, and inadequate treatment options at the facility, leading to a stressful and potentially dangerous environment for individuals seeking help for their mental health issues. These conditions may contribute to patients feeling the need to escape in order to seek better care elsewhere.

It is clear that Eastern State Hospital is failing both its patients and the community by allowing dangerous individuals to escape and potentially harm others. The facility must take immediate action to address its security lapses and improve the quality of care provided to patients. It is unacceptable for a mental health facility to be so poorly managed that patients feel the need to escape in order to seek help.

The troubling history of Eastern State Hospital escapes in Williamsburg, Virginia, highlights the urgent need for reform and accountability within the mental health system. Patients deserve to receive proper care in a safe and secure environment, and the community deserves to be protected from individuals who may pose a danger to themselves and others. It is time for Eastern State Hospital to take responsibility for its failures and make the necessary changes to ensure that such escapes do not happen again in the future.