Video: Insane killer could be released to mother in Lakewood

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SEATTLE - A man who shot and killed his pregnant wife may be set free Thursday after just five years of treatment in a mental institution.

A King County judge will determine if 35-year-old Thomas Gergen can leave Western State Hospital, but the victim’s family vows to fight Gergen’s release every step of the way. They plan to be at the courthouse for the hearing starting at 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

Gergen, who was found not guilty by reason of insanity for killing his pregnant wife five years ago in Shoreline, could be released to his mother's supervision.

A King County Superior Court judge will consider Thursday whether Thomas Gene Gergen has improved enough to leave Western State Hospital and move into an apartment attached to his mother's home in Lakewood.

Gergen's doctors and lawyer say he's ready to make the move.

But his dead wife's father, John Osterhaug, opposes the move. He believes Gerghan is "prone to murder. You can't cure that."

KING

A King County judge will determine Thursday morning if 35-year-old Thomas Gergen can leave Western State Hospital.

Doctors say Gergen was delusional when Kari Osterhaug was shot in 2003 and when Gergen was arrested in 2003, he suffered from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Investigators said the killings came at the end of a lengthy period of decline in Gergen's mental health that included increasing paranoia and delusions. Doctors diagnosed him with schizoaffective disorder.

In February 2004 he was acquitted by reason of insanity and he was found to pose a substantial danger. He was therefore committed to Western State as criminally insane.

But at the hospital, he became a model patient and his defense lawyer says Gergen is ready to make the move because feels remorse, knows he has a mental illness and is committed to taking his medications.

Many people, including residents in Lakewood, are not comfortable with the idea of Gergen being set free. 

"Oh it kills me.  I've got two teenager daughters. (I'm) a single parent, right down the road," said Sandy Casey, Lakewood resident. "No, not good at all." 

"To me it would be an endangerment to the community," said Ann Joy, Lakewood resident.  "After all his wife's family went through, I don't think it would be fair for the community to have him."

KING 5's Tonya Mosley contributed to this report.