Man spends 40 years in mental hospital for stealing a $20 necklace

A man charged with stealing a $20 necklace in 1970 that was found not guilty by reason of insanity remains in the mental hospital he was initially sent to today.

Franklin H. Frye has spent the last four decades locked up in St. Elizabeths Hospital in Washington as complications involving his release took place after his handling judge died in 2007. Six years later, the Washington Times reports, Frye has still been unable to stand before a judge to plead his case.

After his judge unexpectedly passed away, Frye’s case was never transferred to a new judge. Within the last few weeks the case was finally sent out to a new judge.

Frye is now nearing age 70 and hasn’t displayed any psychotic behavior, according to Yahoo.

He has stayed at the hospital longer than John Hinckley Jr., the man who attempted to assassinate Ronal Reagan in 1981 before being sent to St. Elizabeths. Hinckley was recently granted a conditional release from the courts.

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