As questions remain about accused Winchester Library murderer Jeffrey Yao and his mental health, NBC10 Boston has uncovered new information about some of what was done to try to get him help over the past several years.
NBC10 Boston learned Yao has had dozens of interactions with Winchester police since 2012, and sources say police escorted Yao to the hospital to be treated for mental illness at least five times.
A document from shortly after his arrest for attempting to break into a neighbor’s home in September 2017 shows that Winchester Hospital filed paperwork with Woburn District Court to admit Yao for “management of his condition.”
Sources tell NBC10 Boston that when Yao was 18 and a student at Winchester High School, he allegedly posted something inappropriate to Facebook.
Police and school officials got involved and Yao was reportedly sent to a child psychologist.
But sources say that psychologist determined that Yao was not a danger to anyone and should be allowed to go back to school.
Many calls reportedly made to police over the years were concerning his “confusion or delusion” – but sources tell NBC10 Boston more than half of those calls came from Yao himself, and several times Yao reported crimes that didn’t occur.
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One of those times when Yao came to the police department for help, sources say officers tried urgently to reach his doctor, calling him six times before finally reaching him.
That doctor reportedly said he would not see Yao until the following week.
