ROSEVILLE, Calif. — The Placer County deputy assigned to watch accused killer Eric Abril left the room over a dozen times while Abril was hospitalized, according to a Placer County grand jury report released Thursday. Abril is accused of killing James MacEgan during a hostage situation in Roseville in April 2023.
The topic of Abril’s escape is one of many covered in the final 2023-24 grand jury report. It provides the clearest picture yet of what happened leading up to the escape and subsequent 33-hour manhunt.
GRAND JURY REPORT
Thursday's report answers several questions that have been raised over the last year.
Placer County Sheriff's Office policies and procedures, video recordings and the September 2023 final report prepared by former Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones were reviewed.
The grand jury’s investigation found an assigned deputy spent extended periods of time outside of Abril’s room with no line of sight on him. In one case, a nurse entered, and the deputy left the room for six minutes leaving the nurse with an “unguarded and dangerous” inmate.
The grand jury said the deputy took 12 trips outside of the room to make calls, pace the halls and talk to nurses. The deputy took two trips to Abril’s hospital room bathroom. In 14 trips, the deputy was away from Abril for nearly 30 minutes total.
When the deputy exited to the bathroom the second time, Abril allegedly escaped.
Video taken of the escape shows Abril taking off metal leads attached to his head. Since the feeds were not monitored by medical staff and alarms weren’t activated by their removal, he took all of them off. When the deputy left the room, Abril removed his one handcuff, and there were no other restraints keeping him there.
The first person to notify dispatch of a possible escape was a California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer who reported a “subject in orange jumpsuit, possibly escaped.” The grand jury reportedly couldn’t figure out if the deputy failed to ask medical staff to call 911.
The attending deputy was never identified and is still employed at the sheriff's office, according to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office.
"We appreciate the grand jury serving as another set of eyes looking at this situation. Prior to their report’s completion we conducted our own internal investigation and brought in an outside expert to complete an external investigation," said the Placer County Sheriff’s Office. "We took swift action, implementing changes within weeks. Following our internal and the independent investigation, we began implementing changes, including the recommendations outlined in the grand jury report."
HOW IT STARTED: MAHANY PARK SHOOTOUT
Events leading up to Abril's escape started around 12:30 p.m. April 6, 2023, when CHP was looking for Abril so they could execute a search warrant. A shootout with law enforcement at Mahany Park ensued.
A CHP task force officer reported shots fired and CHP Officer Matthew Hiatt was hit. Firefighters brought the officer into the station and provided medical treatment.
Roseville officers reportedly then responded to Mahany Park and were confronted by Abril, who was allegedly armed and running away from them. Law enforcement officials say Abril took two people hostage, husband and wife James and Patricia MacEgan, and he got into a shootout with officers.
Abril allegedly shot the two hostages, injuring Patricia MacEgan and killing James MacEgan, before he was taken into custody.
Days after the shooting, ABC10 learned Roseville police were told CHP was surveilling the area, but CHP reportedly did not alert Roseville police they were executing a warrant.
ABRIL’S ESCAPE
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office says Abril was taken to Sutter Roseville Medical Center on Thursday, July 6, 2023, and he escaped overnight Sunday.
At the time, officials said Abril was able to “defeat some of his restraints.” They confirmed a guard was assigned to him, but Abril ultimately got away after a short chase.
Deputies and partnering agencies conducted a 33-hour manhunt for Abril, but it was a man and his dog who found him.
Homeowner Bill Sanchez was out with his dog behind his house on Zion Court in Rocklin, when the dog began barking. Sanchez saw someone moving, heard splashing in the water and called police who would go on to take Abril back into custody and to the hospital.
Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo addressed the Placer County Board of Supervisors at its next meeting and promised a full investigation to avoid a repeat of Abril’s escape. The supervisors praised Woo and the sheriff’s office response.
ABC10 filed a half dozen requests for public records under state transparency laws, but the sheriff’s office decided to withhold nearly all information requested.
They released a single page under the Public Records Act: an “end of watch” report from days before the escape. It showed a deputy was assigned to guard Abril, but most details were redacted.
SHERIFF’S OFFICE RELEASED DETAILS IN SEPTEMBER 2023
The office said the reason Abril was taken to the hospital was to monitor “possible seizure activity.” He was being supervised by one deputy at a time on rotating shifts, authorities said.
Though initially classified to require two deputies, Abril's classification eventually dropped due to no disciplinary issues since his initial arrest. The report says Abril’s change in classification was not meant for use outside the jail.
WATCH MORE ON ABC10: Eric Abril appears in court after escaping custody
