The California capture of an escaped killer from the Hawaii State Hospital resulted in seven hospital employees being suspended without pay on Wednesday as Gov. David Ige ordered an investigation of how Randall Saito was able to get the money and means to escape after 38 years in confinement.

The hospital employees are being relieved of their duties for 30 days as the state Attorney General’s office investigates how Saito — who was acquitted by reason of insanity in a 1979 murder at Ala Moana Center — was able to escape from the hospital on Sunday, use a cell phone to call a cab, charter a plane to Maui and then catch a commercial flight to California.

The Health Department said in a statement Wednesday, “As the investigation progresses, more employees may be identified and placed on off-duty status.”

At a Capitol news conference Ige, state Attorney General Douglas Chin and state Health Director Virginia Pressler declined to go into details of Saito’s escape, citing the investigation by Chin’s office. But Pressler suggested that some hospital employees may have played a role.

Some of the hospital’s 630 employees on different shifts “may have inadvertently or purposely neglected” to either properly supervise Saito or notify their supervisors, Pressler said.

Asked whether Saito had access to money or a cell phone, Pressler declined to answer specifically but said, “there was a breakdown in communications. We don’t know if that was purposeful or not.”

Some employees, Pressler said, “apparently weren’t doing their job.”

Assurances sought

The hospital, which is next to Windward Community College in Kaneohe, holds 202 patients, the maximum allowed under its license.

Lawmakers who represent the Kaneohe neighborhoods surrounding the State Hospital say they want assurances that dangerous patients like Saito will not be able to walk off the hospital grounds.

Sen. Jill Tokuda (D, Kailua-Kaneohe) said it is “unacceptable” that the department did not notify community members for 10 hours after Saito escaped on Sunday.

“As the lawmakers that represent the Kaneohe community and for those of us who have grown up and lived right next door to the Hawaii State Hospital … this has been an issue that has been ongoing for some time now, and it’s of great concern to us and has been for many, many years … and it demands immediate attention,” Tokuda told reporters Wednesday.

$1.7M infusion

Tokuda, the former chairwoman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, said the Legislature in 2015 appropriated $1.7 million for increased security at the hospital, and over the past 10 years has provided at least $200 million for capital improvements.

“We have been helpful. We have been there. We have appropriated. We have been supportive,” she said. “Now it’s time for some real action and some real accountability. … There has been an erosion of trust.”

Rep. Jarrett Keohokalole (D, Kahaluu-Ahuimanu- Kaneohe) said many of his constituents have been complaining for years about a lack of communication from the state whenever a patient escapes from the facility.

“They are not properly notified when there are escapes, when there are emergency and safety situations at the hospital,” Keohokalole said. “They’ve done investigations. We’ve had hearings. We’ve had apologies. We need action.”

Rep. Ken Ito (D, Kane- ohe-Maunawili-Kailua) said safety concerns over past hospital escapees once prompted him to propose legislation to have dangerous State Hospital patients housed by the Department of Public Safety in a dedicated unit of a prison facility. The idea was tabled after officials said prisons are not equipped to treat mental illness.

“If we cannot, then ship them to the mainland,” Ito suggested.

Ige expressed frustration that hospital officials took 10 hours to notify law enforcement that Saito had escaped, made his way to Maui and was en route to California.

Ige called the delay “totally unacceptable. Clearly we need to know where these patients are, especially those that can be a danger to our community and we need to account for their whereabouts. … Clearly Randall Saito is not one who should have been allowed to leave the facility unescorted. … We will be investigating the specifics of what happened and we will make changes.”

​Saito was committed to the hospital in 1981 after he was acquitted by reason of insanity in the shooting and stabbing death of 29-year-old Sandra Yamashiro at Ala Moana Center two years before.

Saito was in his vehicle with his girlfriend when he shot Yamashiro with a pellet rifle. He then approached her and repeatedly stabbed her with a knife. He was diagnosed with sexual sadism and necrophilia.

On Sunday, Saito walked off the hospital grounds around 9 a.m. and called for a taxi to take him to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, where he paid cash to charter a plane to Maui.

Using a fake ID, he then flew to San Jose on a commercial flight, arriving at about 5:30 p.m. Hawaii time Sunday, two hours before hospital officials alerted Hawaii law enforcement authorities that he was missing. An all-points bulletin was issued about 8:40 p.m.

The tip

CrimeStoppers Sgt. Chris Kim said that Honolulu police received a tip that Saito was on his way to a brother’s home in Stockton, Calif., and the tip was forwarded to authorities in the Central Valley community.

Around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, San Joaquin County sheriff’s deputies arrested Saito in Stockton after a taxi company employee recognized him.

In the aftermath of Saito’s escape, the Health Department said the Hawaii State Hospital also has ended all unescorted on-campus and off-campus privileges; suspended visits to the Kaneohe Clubhouse; retrained all staff on the accountability process; reassigned security and begun reviewing patient privilege and visitation policies.

The Health Department also said the hospital will add unannounced searches of patient areas while procuring additional fencing.

Also, the state Department of Public Safety announced new search policies for visitors and staff at Halawa Correctional Facility that went into effect Wednesday; and for Oahu Community Correctional Center beginning next Wednesday.

“We are constantly working on ways to block other contraband pathways, to better protect both staff and inmate safety, as well as the public we serve,” Halawa warden Scott Harrington said in a statement.