Trial set for cop killer's release
Alan A. Randall, who 35 years ago was convicted in the killings of Summit police officers Robert Atkins and Wayne Olson, will have his former crimes held against him as he again seeks release from a state mental institution.
Judge Donald J. Hassin Jr. decided at a motion hearing on Jan. 9 that evidence brought against Randall in the 1976 killing of his neighbor Ronald Hoeft will be admissible at Randall's Jan. 22 hearing.
Randall is petitioning for re-examination and release from Mendota Mental Health Institute in Madison. He has been committed to the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services since 1977, when he pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to Hoeft's murder. In 1977 he was convicted of the police murders, four burglaries and a car theft.
In 1980, Randall's psychiatric illness diagnosis was dropped, and he was allowed off the Mendota grounds, unescorted privileges, earning 73 college credits at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. According to his petition for re-examination, his diagnosis of personality disorder was dropped in 1989. In 1992, Randall's treatment team concluded that he no longer needed to see his psychologist, according to his petition.
Randall currently works off the grounds of Mendota Mental Health Institution and travels unsupervised to and from work, according to his petition.
Because he is not diagnosed with any mental disorder and has worked unsupervised off-grounds without incident, he should be allowed release, argued his attorney, Craig Powell.
This is the fifth time since his conviction that Randall has sought release from mental care.
A status conference is scheduled for Jan. 18, and Randall's jury hearing is expected to begin Jan. 22.
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