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Man acquitted of murder by reason of insanity escapes state hospital

AUSTIN, Texas — A man acquitted by reason of insanity of murder in the 2013 stabbing death of his father in Austin has escaped from a state hospital to which he was committed, authorities said Monday.

Staff at the North Texas State Hospital in Vernon advised police that Alexander Scott Ervin, 29, was found missing from the hospital shortly after 7:30 a.m. Monday, the Vernon Police Department reported. A review of the hospital’s security video revealed that Ervin left his dormitory room about 9 p.m. Sunday and scaled the hospital’s 8-foot security fence before heading north on foot about 9:15 p.