The gunman who killed 32 people at Virginia Tech failed to get the mental health treatment ordered by a judge who declared him an imminent threat to himself and others, a newspaper reported Monday.
Seung-Hui Cho was found “mentally ill and in need of hospitalization” in December 2005, according to court papers. A judge ordered him into involuntary outpatient treatment.
However, neither the court nor community mental health officials followed up on the judge’s order, and Cho didn’t get the treatment, The Washington Post reported, citing unidentified authorities who have seen Cho’s medical files.
“The system doesn’t work well,” said Tom Diggs, executive director of the Commission on Mental Health Law Reform, which has been studying the state mental health system.
Federal, state and local officials contacted Monday by The Associated Press said they had no idea whether Cho received the treatment because they are not privy to that information.
Special justice Paul Barnett, who ordered the treatment, said judicial ethics prevent him from talking about Cho’s case.
School officials did not return calls seeking comment.
