“Here we go again.” CT Senate GOP Statement on Psych Board Greenlighting Release of Man Who Killed With Bayonet

For Immediate Release

Sen. Heather Somers, Sen. Paul Cicarella, Sen. Henri Martin and Sen. Stephen Harding today issued the following statement regarding the new decision by the state Psychiatric Security Review Board to release an individual who killed another man with a bayonet.

“Here we go again.  Are we in the twilight zone?

Last month, a cannibal killer was released. That put CT in the international news.

Now, the board has released this individual despite its warning less than a year ago that he could pose a danger to others.

This is a now a pattern.

Where is Gov. Lamont? Why doesn’t he demand accountability from this state board?”

(Related article attached.)

Psych Board Greenlights Release of Man Who Killed With Bayonet

(CT Examiner)

NEW LONDON — A local man who was committed to a state maximum security psychiatric hospital for killing another man with a bayonet has been released despite a state review board warning last year that he could pose a danger to others.

Alan Nadeau will live in a supervised group home and attend treatments by an outside therapist under the new decision by the state Psychiatric Security Review Board.

Last May, that same board had denied Nadeau’s request to be released, stating, “Alan Nadeau is a person who should remain confined. He has a psychiatric disability to the extent that his discharge or conditional release would constitute a danger to self or others.”

Nadeau then filed a lawsuit against the board.

“Appellant Nadeau is aggrieved by the decision of the PSRB in that the decision has prejudiced or has caused prejudice to the substantial rights of the appellant,” the suit states.

Nadeau’s lawyer, Assistant Public Defender Kevin Semataska, declined comment.

In a statement to CT Examiner, Vanessa Cardella, executive director of the PSRB, denied “reversing” its decision on Nadeau and that his lawsuit played any part in the decision to now release him into the community.

This comes as Cardella and the PSRB face criticism from elected officials for releasing a Florida man who was found not guilty by reason of insanity for killing a homeless Bridgeport man to death in 2011 and then cannibalizing the victim.

In January 2016, a three-judge panel in state Superior Court in New London found Nadeau not guilty by reason of insanity in the 2015 murder of Christian Beloin.

According to testimony during the trial, Nadeau stabbed the victim in the neck with a bayonet as they were sitting and talking in Nadeau’s father’s home in Lebanon. Nadeau then drove himself to the police station and surrendered.

A psychiatrist testified that Nadeau suffers from severe psychosis and believed killing the victim would stop the voices in his head that were tormenting him.

The three-judge panel ordered Nadeau confined to the state’s maximum security psychiatric hospital for 56 years.

New London State’s Attorney Paul Narducci declined to comment on the Nadeau case.

In its initial decision in May, the PSRB stated that, “There have been no changes to Mr. Nadeau’s diagnosis, which remains schizophrenia. Mr. Nadeau is at times reliant upon his providers to reality test and for support navigating complex feelings and social interactions.”

Cardella stated that the board conducted another hearing in January to reassess Nadeau’s condition, noting that testimony presented since the previous hearing indicated Nadeau had remained psychiatrically stable and fully compliant with treatment.

“Throughout this time, Mr. Nadeau received commendations from various providers for his improved social interactions and reduced tendencies toward isolation. His demeanor was predominantly described as pleasant, and he maintained a forward-looking perspective,” she said.

Cardella added that witnesses at the January hearing provided “clarification” regarding Nadeau’s capacity to navigate social interactions.