Update..no update...

Sitting here on Halloween watching The Lost Boys, I can’t help remember that it is one of my dad’s favorite horror movies. He always had an affinity for scary movies, in particular those involving vampires. Unfortunately dad is still in jail even though he has been accepted in mental health court. Why? Because no half way house has agreed to take him yet. According to his forensic case worker, this is largely a financial issue. Dad has no resources currently. I was his payee and sent money all over the United States twice a week via Western Union for an extensive period of time, but then he went missing. I feared something horrible had happened to him. It turned out he was in jail, but given my responsibility for my minor brother and fear that losing track of dad again while getting his disability checks could be a liability, I relinquished payee status. We ended up giving payee status to a man who own apartments that he rents out to mentally ill post release from custody in Fort Myers, Florida (where I found my dad the next time). I figured that way he would at least have a roof over his head and food. That didn’t last long though, as he disappeared and was ultimately arrested again in July 2010 (this is the arrest for which he is currently incarcerated). Dad is not eligible to his disability while in custody, but I have no clue as to exactly when it stopped. Ironically I work for social security disability but cannot expedite this process or see what is going on whatsoever. Dad’s social worker now knows the situation and I directed her to contact social security in Florida, so perhaps things will be sorted out soon and dad will be released from jail.  Hopefully he will remain compliant with his meds to avoid tragedy on the streets or re-incarceration. I want to see him when I can take vacation in May and let him know that while he has been in his own personal nightmare, a re-make of Fright Night is out, and one of Dark Shadows will be released soon. Maybe we can have a movie marathon circa 1995. Baby steps…

Mental Health Court it is....

Dad was accepted into mental health court and will likely be released early next week to a group home with probation type stipulations such as being court ordered to take his medication and go before the judge regularly to show he is being compliant. This is literally my dad's last hope I fear, so I am trying to be positive but prepared. This situation is more structured than in the past, but ignoring history would be naive.

The Good:

Dad will not be on the street. He will have a roof over his head and people trying to make sure he is on his meds and safe. He will not be in jail anymore, which was never where my father belonged. 2 of the 3 charges will be dismissed as long as he is compliant with the plea arrangement.

The Bad:

My dad, whose homeless nomadic lifestyle has resulted in countless misdemeanor arrests, jail stays, and state hospital stays, is now a felon. Should he not comply with the courts by staying at his half way house in Lee County, taking his meds, and reporting to the courts as required, the deal is off and he will be returned to jail to face the original 3 felony charges. So unfortunate since he was psychotic and delusional when the crimes occurred and had no idea what he was even doing. In all of the years that my father roamed the country leading up to the instant offense in Fort Myers, he never displayed violent behavior. He would never hurt a fly, of that I am certain. Yes, he likely scared people and surely displayed bizarre behavior that of course could be perceived as threatening. I was terrified when I saw my father off his meds, although not of him.

The Ugly:

My dad has a history of taking off no matter what the circumstances (well, since his major break in 1999). When I got him transferred from the psychiatric hospital in Iowa to Columbus in 2006, he was ultimately released from the state hospital into an apartment that I got him near my own. I made sure he had a court appointed guardian in control of medical decisions and was his SSDI payee. I visited dad often but within a month or so, he was gone.  I was left with a trashed apartment and a broken, dejected heart. He came back and ended up being placed in a group home. With custody of Ian, then in middle school, I couldn’t risk my credit by signing for an apartment again. Again I visited often, but within the month he was off his meds and roaming the country again. He has been in other group homes as well with the same outcome. Because he has the threat of re-arrest hopefully he will stay put this time, but to be honest I would be absolutely shocked. He is paranoid of others and never does well in that type of setting. Plus I am not there to visit. No one is. I will do my best to be in touch and stress the ramifications should he choose to take off, but I am battling against a relentless disease: one that tells my dad not to take his meds. The voices start as whispers, but then get louder and louder until he is compelled to listen. Then the cycle begins again. But this time my dad will be a homeless felon with an active warrant. And he is 62, too old for the homeless lifestyle. I am so scared for him. I am scared for me. And what could happen. Hopefully, maybe, this time it will be different. I truly feel this is the last hope.

My father’s attorney said he had a great chance of successfully using the Insanity Defense and ultimately being found not guilty. That would have been my preference. But then he would’ve had to stay in jail for who knows how long until after the trial and would have probably been ordered into a hospital for an infinite amount of time. I can’t blame dad for wanting to be free, after more than 2 years in custody. Hopefully the outcome of mental health court will be better than what my instinct tells me. I want to be wrong….