The Florida State Hospital for the Insane in Chattahoochee, Florida was originally a military arsenal in the Seminole Wars then it became a state prison but in 1876 it became the State Hospital. The prison already had a history of abuse and it appears that the abuse and unlawful imprisonment continued throughout the next hundred years.
One famous patient, Emmett Foley, is depicted in the movie, “Chattahoochee,” based on the real life experience of a Korean War veteran who returns from war to realize that he cannot afford his family. He attempts to set up a situation to have the police murder him but he is captured and sent to Chattahoochee. Emmett endears horrific living conditions and beatings but soon he decides to document the treatment in the hospital and slip it out of the institution in a bible while his sister is visiting. This prompted an investigation and reforms.
In 2016, Chattahoochee was back in the news when budget cuts led to staff reductions and overcrowding. The Institutions in Florida received $100 million in budget cuts then started doubling up patients in rooms without regard for safety. On April 23, 2016, a 60 year old patient is stomped to death by his 19 year old roommate, this is following a similar incident in January of 2015.
Today the Florida State Hospital is depicted on its official website like a country club with beautiful fountains and happy people of diverse races walking down a perfectly manicured sidewalk. The mission statement reads: “Partners with Stakeholders to Promote Competency Restoration, and Personal Recovery and Resiliency through a Trauma Informed Approach.” The deaths began in the early days of the institution as depicted on a Facebook page: Florida State Hospital’s Lost and Forgotten. The more recent deaths caused by patient neglect, failure to follow safety protocol are still being revealed in newspapers and still protected by laws, Luis Santana, a 42 year old man had been given 5 strong antipsychotic medications then left in a bathtub to die.
