The U.S. Marshals Service has joined the hunt for a Maryland carjacking suspect who escaped from a mental hospital more than a month ago.
Authorities are searching for 43-year-old Patrick Pitner, who absconded from the Spring Grove Hospital Center in Catonsville on May 13.
Marshals deputies said Pitner was admitted to the hospital on May 13. He was at the hospital for about an hour when he ran off as an ambulance was bringing in another patient.
The hospital didn’t return calls for comment.
Pitner was facing charges of carjacking, assault, stalking and theft in St. Mary’s County, according to the county sheriff’s office.
Court records show Pitner was indicted in that case in April and was scheduled to face trial next month.
The Marshals Service said Pitner has attempted suicide.
“Pitner has a history of drugs and should be considered volatile,” Officer John Vanhoy said.
He has served time in prison for a Baltimore drug conviction and a Charles County assault case, according to court records.
Pitner’s last known address was on the 3800 block of Stoneybrook Road in White Plains in Charles County. Authorities believe he may return to Southern Maryland.
Pitner is described as a white man who is 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs about 200 pounds. He has blue eyes and light brown hair. He was last seen wearing a red T-shirt with white lettering and bluejeans.
Anyone with information about Pitner’s case is asked to call the Marshals Service at 301-489-1717.
Tips from readers of The Washington Examiner have led directly to the capture of at least 31 fugitives, including murderers, bank robbers, kidnappers and sex offenders.
The Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, run by the Marshals Service, is composed of 30 federal, state and local agencies from Baltimore to Norfolk. The unit has captured more than 33,000 wanted fugitives since it was created in 2004.
Betsy Woodruff contributed to this report.
