Following a court ruling on Wednesday, Kendrex White, the man implicated in the 2017 University of Texas campus stabbing, can begin receiving outpatient services after being deemed not guilty by reason of insanity. The decision sanctioned his release from a state mental hospital, as reported by KXAN. While cameras weren't allowed in the courtroom during the hearing, testimonies from mental health professionals painted the narrative of White's progress, with one doctor labeling his mental health treatment compliance as the "gold standard."
White's transition to outpatient care comes after recommendations by his current mental health hospital and a court-appointed psychiatrist-informed judgment by Travis County Judge Tamara Needles. White, who has schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, committed the stabbing just after being released from inpatient care due to a previous mental episode, raising concerns by the Travis County District Attorney's Office about the threat to community safety and the wishes of the victims' families. In a statement obtained by CBS Austin, District Attorney José Garza expressed that, "Our hearts continue to break for the Brown family and the other victims impacted by Mr. White’s violent acts."
The ruling has met opposition, particularly from Lori Brown, the mother of slain freshman Harrison Brown. Speaking with KXAN, Brown expressed her lasting anguish, "Although I have a place for him being sick, that doesn’t change the fact that I lost my son in a horribly violent way." Advocacy group SafeHorns, through President Joell McNew, shared a similar sentiment, emphasizing the irreplaceable loss of Brown's life and potential.
As to White's mental health, his attending psychiatrist, Jennifer Wright, testified that his symptoms are in 'remission' and he had shown commitment to his treatment. She detailed that he never attempted to skip medication and has expressed guilt and remorse for his actions. Despite this, Wright, when cross-examined, admitted that the less structured environment of a group home, where White is to be transitioned, will not offer as much supervision as the state hospital, as reported by KXAN.
The conditions under which White will live in the group home were outlined by Genny Moreno, head of social services at Kerrville State Hospital. White would be the second resident in a home with a staff ratio promising round-the-clock supervision. The judge's decision echoes the delicate balance of therapeutic jurisprudence, prioritizing rehabilitation consistent with public safety, a balance that many involved in the case and community at large will be watching closely as White's outpatient treatment unfolds.
