Chapter 1: The patient
Arrested for indecent exposure in Rockbridge County, 18-year-old John McCloskey is sent to Western State Hospital, a state-run mental institution in Staunton. Three days after his arrival, he becomes violently ill and is rushed to a Charlottesville emergency room.
June 13, 1999
Chapter 2: The hospital
Suffering severe abdominal injuries he most likely received either from Rockbridge County deputies or at Western State, John McCloskey lingers for more than a year in a Charlottesville hospital. Surgeries and rehabilitation can't save him, leaving his family in a confused rage, wanting to know who had inflicted the fatal assault
June 14, 1999
Chapter 3: The paper trail
Handed an investigation plagued with problems, Virginia State Police begin re-creating the time frame during which John McCloskey most likely was injured, starting iwth his arrest in Rockbridge County and ending three days later at Western State Hospital
June 16, 1999
Chapter 4: The investigation
During three years of investigation, Virginia State Police focus mainly on Rockbridge County as the site of John McCloskey's fatal injuries -- all to no avail -- leading some to wonder how seriously Western State Hospital was scrutinized.
June 18, 1999
Chapter 5: The lawsuit
Convinced that John McCloskey was fatally assaulted by staff or patients at Western State Hospital, his family files a federal lawsuit against the state-run mental institution. The state strongly desputes the allegations and fights the lawsuit at every turn.
June 20, 1999
Chapter 6: The family continues to search for the killer
Attorney subpoenas FBI for documents; state legislators at a loss on how to help the McCloskeys.
June 28, 1999
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Dead, but at whose hand?
Click on the originial series at the left or below for the latest stories. And join the discussion by clicking here.
Agency, McCloskey family settle for $50,000
July 17, 2003
Family,hospital settle lawsuit
July 3, 2003
Lawyer gives theory for man's death
Sept. 27, 2002
Judge won't fine lawyer for leaking medical records
Sept. 15, 2000
Lawyer faces possible sanctions
July 22, 2000
Hospital chief's illness raises new McCloskey questions
June 30, 2000
Case's key player dies
May 30, 2000
In pursuit of the truth
Dec. 12, 1999
Report criticizes Western State
Oct 8, 1999
Delay granted to allow couple time to identify son's attackers
July 24, 1999
Roanoke Times staff writer Michael Hemphill began this project in September 1998. He interviewed John McCloskey's family, friends, neighbors, school counselors and former employers to learn more about the teen-ager's life and mental illness.
Staff at the University of Virginia Medical Center were interviewed, and dozens of medical records studied, to accurately chart the course of McCloskey's hospitalization.
Information about the investigation was obtained from Virginia State Police reports, notes from Western State Hospital and the Rockbridge County Sheriff's Office, and interviews with the people involved.
While some of the recent scenes depicted in this series were observed by the reporter, all others were based on at least two witnesses' recollections.
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Copyright 2003