Winchester Stabbing Suspect Had 2 Dozen Police Interactions

WINCHESTER, MA — Police had about two dozen encounters with Jeffrey Yao before he was arrested for the murder of Deane Kenny Stryker at the Winchester Public Library, according to newly released police records.

Police say Yao snuck up behind Stryker, a former classmate, and brutally stabbed her last month, but it wasn't the first time Yao interacted with police. Reports going back to 2012 show a history of incidents, outburst, and mental health evaluations.

"We are releasing this information because it is in the public interest and because we believe that the public is served by the release of this information," Winchester Police Chief Peter MacDonnell said in a release. "Our officers brought this individual to a local hospital for mental health evaluations many times. It is my hope that the release of this information will contribute to the dialogue on mental health in our society."

• RELATED: Chilling 911 Calls In Winchester Stabbing Released

Yao's first encounter with law enforcement officials came about six years ago when Yao was attending Winchester High School. Police learned that he posted videos on Facebook related to the Virginia Tech shooting. Winchester Police were advised by a mental health professional treating Yao, in writing, that he did not feel Yao was a threat to others and should be cleared to return to school.

He was escorted to the hospital for a mental health evaluation on November 2013 and that April reported that someone yelled at him at a pharmacy. About two weeks later, Yao told police that his bike was stolen outside a pharmacy.

A May 20, 2014 report detailed an encounter where Yao was told to leave Winchester High School after he allegedly ran onto the field during a lacrosse game.

Four incidents in 2016 include Yao telling police that he kicked in the door of his family's home and should be arrested, despite being in a hospital; a report of suicidal statements from a health care worker; a report from Yao that doctors were threatening him and telling him that he was hearing voices in his head; and an outburst where he threw a shovel across the street, breaking a neighbor's window in the process.

Some of the most recent interactions came in June 2017 when Yao was reported as a suspicious person at a convenience store. Police say Yao asked a customer to kill him. He was transported to the hospital for a mental health evaluation. In September 2017, Yao was arrested and charged with breaking into a neighbor's home.

Yao was arraigned Monday in Woburn District Court on one count of murder and one count of armed assault with intent to murder. Judge Timothy Gailey ordered the defendant held without bail. He is due in court for a status hearing on April 11.

Image Credit: Winchester Police Department