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Livermore man reported missing
Patient at mental health facility was dropped off at homeless shelter, wife says
By Roman Gokhman
STAFF WRITER - Contra Costa Times
A Livermore man being treated for a mental health disorder and liver failure is missing after a Hayward facility discharged him and dropped him off at an Oakland homeless shelter, police and the man's wife said.
John Kenneth Wojcik, 43, was discharged from the Casa Phoenix treatment facility on Oct. 18, according to his wife, Corazon.
"I should have taken him," she said.
Casa Phoenix contracts with Kaiser Permanente to provide medical services to Kaiser members.
Corazon Wojcik said her husband, who is 6 feet tall and weighs 170 pounds, has light brown hair. He reportedly left the facility wearing blue jeans, a black T-shirt and a blue jacket.
She said he is shy and has not been taking his medication, but he may appear to be OK.
"He can hide his psychosis and talk to you straight," she said.
She said she saw him last at Casa Phoenix on Oct. 13. At that time, staff members at the facility told her that her husband had to be either discharged or transferred to another facility by the Oct. 18, she said.
She said she asked staff members to transfer him another treatment facility.
"We were waiting for their call that day," she said, but it never came.
Corazon Wojcik said she called the facility Friday to ask where her husband had been transferred and was told he was discharged the previous day and taken to a homeless shelter in Oakland.
"They arranged to have him transported there," Livermore police Lt. Scott Trudeau said. "Why they would do that we don't know."
He said the Tri-Valley does not have any homeless shelters for men, but that does not explain why John Wojcik was taken to a homeless shelter when he was not homeless.
Corazon Wojcik said she immediately called the shelter but was not able to reach anyone until Saturday. Then she was told that everyone who spent the previous night there had left for the day.
Calls to officials at Casa Phoenix were not returned Wednesday. Kaiser Permanente spokeswoman Gerri Ginsburg said she does not know the specifics of what led to John Wojcik's disappearance.
"We're investigating this actively," she said. "Because of patient privacy laws, we can't discuss an individual case."
Trudeau said John Wojcik is considered an at-risk missing person. Police have issued a bulletin to all other area law enforcement agencies, especially those that patrol the Oakland area.
"We're assuming he's out and about over there," he said.
Reach Roman Gokhman at 925-847-2164 or at rgokhman@bayareanewsgroup.com.
Patient at mental health facility was dropped off at homeless shelter, wife says
By Roman Gokhman
STAFF WRITER - Contra Costa Times
A Livermore man being treated for a mental health disorder and liver failure is missing after a Hayward facility discharged him and dropped him off at an Oakland homeless shelter, police and the man's wife said.
John Kenneth Wojcik, 43, was discharged from the Casa Phoenix treatment facility on Oct. 18, according to his wife, Corazon.
"I should have taken him," she said.
Casa Phoenix contracts with Kaiser Permanente to provide medical services to Kaiser members.
Corazon Wojcik said her husband, who is 6 feet tall and weighs 170 pounds, has light brown hair. He reportedly left the facility wearing blue jeans, a black T-shirt and a blue jacket.
She said he is shy and has not been taking his medication, but he may appear to be OK.
"He can hide his psychosis and talk to you straight," she said.
She said she saw him last at Casa Phoenix on Oct. 13. At that time, staff members at the facility told her that her husband had to be either discharged or transferred to another facility by the Oct. 18, she said.
She said she asked staff members to transfer him another treatment facility.
"We were waiting for their call that day," she said, but it never came.
Corazon Wojcik said she called the facility Friday to ask where her husband had been transferred and was told he was discharged the previous day and taken to a homeless shelter in Oakland.
"They arranged to have him transported there," Livermore police Lt. Scott Trudeau said. "Why they would do that we don't know."
He said the Tri-Valley does not have any homeless shelters for men, but that does not explain why John Wojcik was taken to a homeless shelter when he was not homeless.
Corazon Wojcik said she immediately called the shelter but was not able to reach anyone until Saturday. Then she was told that everyone who spent the previous night there had left for the day.
Calls to officials at Casa Phoenix were not returned Wednesday. Kaiser Permanente spokeswoman Gerri Ginsburg said she does not know the specifics of what led to John Wojcik's disappearance.
"We're investigating this actively," she said. "Because of patient privacy laws, we can't discuss an individual case."
Trudeau said John Wojcik is considered an at-risk missing person. Police have issued a bulletin to all other area law enforcement agencies, especially those that patrol the Oakland area.
"We're assuming he's out and about over there," he said.
Reach Roman Gokhman at 925-847-2164 or at rgokhman@bayareanewsgroup.com.