Officials to Investigate Morton Hospital for Handling of Taunton Killer

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The Department of Public Health will investigate a Taunton hospital for its handling of an emergency room visit by the man who went on a deadly stabbing spree hours after being released.

Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders told the Boston Herald on Wednesday that state health officials will be taking a look into Morton Hospital’s policies. Family members say Arthur DaRosa checked into the hospital for depression on Monday night, but was discharged early on Tuesday morning.

According to authorities, DaRosa went on to stab two people inside a nearby home, killing an 80-year-old woman, before driving to the Silver City Galleria. DaRosa crashed his car into a Macy’s department store and proceeded to assault people inside a Bertucci’s, where he killed a 56-year-old teacher.

The rampage was stopped when an off-duty Plymouth County sheriff’s deputy who happened to be inside the restaurant shot and killed DaRosa.

“What happened in Taunton is not very common, and I think that all of us need to understand the facts and the situation,” Sudders told the Herald. “I think it’s important for us to review what occurred from the point of entry to his discharge from the emergency room.”

DaRosa’s older sister, Kerri Devries, told the Herald that her brother was suffering from depression and thought that the devil was speaking to him. Members of his family told the media that the tragedy “could have been prevented” if Morton Hospital had only kept DaRosa for treatment.

Hospital officials have declined to comment on the matter due to doctor-patient confidentiality.