Beaten inmate, 16, flees hospital

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By Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

Published: 11/21/2003

Donte Santiago, the 16-year-old Monroe County, N.Y. Jail inmate brutally beaten by fellow inmates earlier this month, fled on Thursday from the Rochester hospital where he was being treated for a severe brain injury.
Santiago, who was scheduled to be released from Unity Health System's Genesee Street Campus Friday, ran away from the hospital's Brain Injury Unit yesterday morning.
According to his father, Neftali Santiago, the boy had been with a nurse, who he "pushed out (of) the way." Hospital officials disputed that account, but a spokesman could not provide details about what may have actually happened.
The officials called 911 after Santiago left, in accordance with their "elopement policy." Santiago had been released from police custody on Monday.
Rochester police located and returned Santiago to the hospital shortly after he left. His mother, Jacqueline Santiago, said her son was trying to get home. The boy had tried already on Wednesday to leave the hospital, and once before when he was still in custody, according to his father.
Santiago was attacked Nov. 3 in a cellblock in the Monroe County Jail. He had been arrested Oct. 30 on a burglary charge.
Two teenage inmates have been charged with second-degree assault amid allegations that they kicked Santiago in the head when he was on the floor, causing his head to strike the cellblock bars.
Santiago will face the burglary charges at a later date but will not have to return to jail.
The boy was released Thursday from the hospital and will begin receiving outpatient therapy on Monday, his father said.
Santiago still cannot speak, according to his father.
Santiago's mother said her son will require constant supervision at home and will have therapy several times a week.

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