FLORIDA — Investigative reporter Christopher Heath has been digging into the state's poor record on mental health issues and discovered a systematic pattern of neglect.
A father threw his daughter off a bridge and he was ruled mentally incompetent.
Another man was sent to a mental health hospital only to be released, and then kill his wife before forcing police to kill him.
On Friday, the mental health of a man accused of killing his grandmother was called into question.
Only two states spend less per person on mental health than Florida, and it is not a recent trend.
For years, the state has been reducing the budget for mental health, relying on a network of non-profit organizations to fill the gap.
Selma Frett's brother has schizophrenia, and has been sent for involuntary psychological evaluations.
"It's become dangerous, and you who live around it, you know, it's dangerous, but we're limited to the help we can get," said Frett.
Frett says when he's in a facility, he is treated, but when he's out, there is nowhere to go.
"That's a pattern, and somebody needs to do something before he hurts someone, not after," she said."
Frett and her family said her brother has been in and out of the Orange County Jail, and she said it's a repetitive cycle."
In November, 9 Investigates exposed the staggering number of Florida inmates with mental health issues.
In Orange County, one-third of those in jail have a diagnosed mental health history.
In 2001, the state shifted care of the mentally ill to a network of non-profits, and then began cutting funding.
Of the four remaining state facilities, an internal report obtained by Eyewitness News shows they are over 100 percent capacity, leaving people like Frett with a brother she loves, but also fears.
"We love our brother. We love our brother. We want help," she said.
"You're scared for your brother?" asked Heath.
"Most definitely, and scared for myself," Frett said.
Florida spends $970 million on mental health and substance abuse programs.
Providers estimate that to treat existing clients that they already know about, but don't have the resources to help, they would need another $638 million.
WFTV
