Getting information from closed mental institution in. In 1975 this facility was featured in a documentary that made claims that the hospital was drugging its patients with heavy doses of sedatives. The haunting began during the sites final days of operation as an insane asylum. Camarillo state mental hospital, also known as camarillo state hospital, was a psychiatric hospital for both developmentally disabled and mentally ill patients in camarillo, california. A nurse named debbie told of how she was roughly grabbed and shaken during a cigarette break. Camarillo state hospital, channel islandsoxnard welcome to the hotel california second only to the paul is dead talk that followed the beatles throughout much of their careers, rumors and legends abound about the eagles 1976 hit hotel california. Camarillo state mental hospital camarillo, california. Oct 14, 2007 camarillo, california california is a state with more than its fair share of ghostly residents, and true to the west coast way of life, many of them deal with stars of past eras and horrific.
Ventura county star camarillo state mental hospital. In the 1950s, camarillo state hospital, like most mental institutions of the day, was a massive warehouse for the mentally ill, its drab wards bulging with more than 7,000 patients, most of them. Ventura county star obituaries camarillo, ca ventura. Now csu channel islands, former employees of the closed mental hospital gathered recently to remember. Jun 16, 2017 camarillo state hospital closed 20 years ago. More than 1,000 people died at camarillo state hospital of both natural and suspicious causes in the years before the institution for the mentally and developmentally disabled closed. Camarillo state hospital developmental center january 3, 2018 nick lozano pt, rn, pres of csea died dec 28th, 2017 funeral services to be held at reardon funeral home 511 north a st. Yet the state investigation concluded without examining whether the medication contributed to the mans death.
The place is crawling with the paranormal, and they make themselves known daily. The theory bears out at the former camarillo state mental hospital. Atascadero state hospital, formally known as california department of state hospitals. Patient sentenced for murder of napa state hospital worker cbs. Camarillo state hospital, channel islandsoxnard weird u. I recently discovered the camarillo state hospital, and thought it was interesting. This was the site of the california mental hospital built in the 1930s now in a new incarnation as a state university. This site is devoted to the history of camarillo state mental hospital, which is. Johns pleasant valley hospital is a hospital that offers many services, including cancer care, emergency services, and subacute care.
May 18, 2012 archival footage from sometime between 2003 2004. Camarillo state hospital alumni public group facebook. Camarillo state hospital workers recall their calling. Cal state channel islands formerly camarillo state mental hospital. Ventura county star article this article was printed in the ventura county star september 4, 2010. Jazzman charlie parker s relaxin at camarillo, written while he was detoxing from heroin addiction, is a tribute to the facility. Gena philibertortega is a genealogist and author of the book from the family kitchen.
Jun 04, 2011 camarillo state hospital as the story goes, this hospital was originally built in 1932, and at one time was considered to be one of the chief pioneers in developing new techniques for previously untreatable diagnoses e. My greatuncles wife was committed to camarillo state hospital in california for something over 30 years, until her death in 1967. Since id first seen it a couple of months ago, ive heard many urban tales about it. Oct 19, 2015 explore keebie88s board camarillo state mental hospital on.
California state officials released a list of skilled nursing facilities that have reported one or more cases of coronavirus among patients andor staff. Some of them seem realistic, some completely false. A camarillo nursing home faces a lawsuit alleging it evicts residents as soon as their medicare coverage for shortterm care expires, bypassing. Built in the 1930s, camarillo state was, at the time, the largest mental health facility in the united states, housing over 7,000 individuals at its peak. Researching ancestors who were committed to asylums, using.
Johns pleasant valley hospital camarillo, ca dignity. Mar, 2016 metropolitan state hospital in norwalk opened in 1916. See more ideas about abandoned asylums, psychiatric hospital and asylum. Camarillo state hospital, which closed in 1997, is being reincarnated as california state university channel islands, the 23rd campus in the csu system and the first fulltime, fouryear. Camarillo state hospital collection john spoor broome. Camarillo state hospital unit 25 the archives youtube. Getting information from closed mental institution in california, usa. Patients in need of help and secure environment are welcomed. The state of california acquired 1500 acres in the city of camarillo, county of ventura, for the department of developmental services to build a state hospital in 1932. A videotaped walthrough of unit 28 at what was once camarillo state hospital. The campus of what used to be camarillo state hospital is practically. In december, 1976 the cbs evening news with walter cronkite ran a story about patient deaths at metropolitan and camarillo state hospitals, and the story.
Episode 12 psych ward camarillo with wayne poe spooks and. Camarillo state hospital developmental center posts. Camarillo, california california is a state with more than its fair share of ghostly residents, and true to the west coast way of life, many of them deal with stars of past eras and horrific. Jun 14, 2017 the grand jury was also presented with cases of questionable deaths and brutal treatment at camarillo state mental hospital. Apr 18, 2020 california state officials released a list of skilled nursing facilities that have reported one or more cases of coronavirus among patients andor staff. Aug, 2012 in 1932, the california government purchased 1,760 acres of land in lewis ranch in order to build the camarillo state mental hospital. One of the few areas as yet not renovated by the calstate which took over the grounds.
The hospital was designed to house 7000 patients and over 700 staff, making it the largest mental hospital in the world upon its completion. The facility grew with a new receiving and treatment center and an administration building in 1949. I mainly worked unit 66 autism with darlene davidson, larry savino, chuck ellis, etc. Ventura county star obituaries and death notices for camarillo california area. These california nursing homes reported coronavirus cases. The probe was carried out to determine if criminal negligence or worse was involved in the many deaths from strangulation, drug overdoses, drownings and other causes over a four year period. Jun 20, 2016 one hospital that embodies these traits is the camarillo state mental hospital.
In february, a 24yearold patient at southwestern state hospital died in what the facilitys clinical director described as a medical mystery. California state university channel islands weird california. Cecil watson obituary camarillo, ca ventura county star. In 1947, camarillo state hospital opened a ward for the admission of mentally disabled children. In a 1976 times article entitled, deaths investigated at state mental hospital, michael seiler wrote, the ventura county district attorney is investigating more than 100 deaths at camarillo state hospital over the last three years and charges of murder or manslaughter may be filed by the end of the year, a spokesman for the district attorneys office said monday. In a 1976 times article entitled, deaths investigated at state mental hospital, michael seiler wrote, the ventura county district attorney is investigating more than 100 deaths at camarillo state hospital over the last three years and charges of murder or manslaughter may be filed by the end of the year, a spokesman for the district attorney. The site has been redeveloped as the california state university, channel islands. I later worked clericaltypist jobs, hospital worker, then psych tech program in 1979.
Odd as it is, postcards of camarillo state mental hospital were sold to tourists who visited the hospital and many were used to write notes to people back home, such as this one which i found on an auction site online. In this guest blog post gena writes about how difficult it can be finding information about an ancestor who was committed to an asylum i. Two occurred at patton state hospital in san bernardino county. Metropolitan state hospital provides mental health care and treatment to mentally issued patients. Hayden miller of camarillo attends an observance for people who died at state hospitals for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled monday on the site of the former camarillo state hospital, which is now the california state university channel islands campus. Since id first seen it a couple of months ago, ive heard many urban tales about. Camarillo state mental hospital was a psychiatric hospital for both developmentally disabled and mentally ill patients in camarillo, california. The murder came in the wake of federal courtmandated changes that reduced the usage of medication and restraints on patients, as well as a large. Aug 14, 2017 haunted camarillo state hospital where over patients died, over medication, experimental anti psychotic drugs lead to suicides and deaths. Sep 20, 2010 hayden miller of camarillo attends an observance for people who died at state hospitals for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled monday on the site of the former camarillo state hospital, which is now the california state university channel islands campus.
The university has retained the distinctive mission revival style architecture, and the. Dec 14, 2018 a camarillo nursing home faces a lawsuit alleging it evicts residents as soon as their medicare coverage for shortterm care expires, bypassing the notices, medical evaluations and other steps. Links to more of my camarillo hospital videos are at the bottom of this video description. A year later the hospital received more attention when it became the subject of a news story on patient deaths.
Camarillo state mental hospital was a psychiatric hospital for both developmentally. Mendocino state hospital napa state hospital 2100 napavallejo highway napa, ca 945586293 phone 7072535000 camarillo state hospital developmental center mental health designation metropolitan state hospital 11400 s. California state university at channel islands, camarillo. Studio 3 doctors and 5 other employees of camarillo state mental hospital indicted by ventura cnty.
Patients who died in state hospitals are remembered. Camarillo state mental hospital, camarillo, california. Such is the case with the camarillo state mental hospital. California mental hospitals vanderbilt television news. But, it might become better known as spook u for all of the ghostly encounters reported here. It was the pioneer in treating illnesses that were thought to be untreatable, such as developing drugs and therapies for schizophrenia and dealing with autism being one. Nov 06, 2002 camarillo state hospital, which closed in 1997, is being reincarnated as california state university channel islands, the 23rd campus in the csu system and the first fulltime, fouryear. This camarillo hospital is one of the best in california. Aug, 2006 a videotaped walthrough of unit 28 at what was once camarillo state hospital. These california nursing homes reported coronavirus. Cecil watson, jr sacramento cecil watson, jr, age 77, passed away on march 21, 2020 in sacramento, ca.
1491 834 475 1115 1123 1487 870 509 710 808 656 73 812 1173 107 868 558 164 1066 1330 285 1615 377 1489 1187 94 1350 2 1287 255 727 1265 1643 581 1485 158 1065 56 715 546 1159 172 971 1097 1292 46