Accused Napa State Killer Held to Answer

A murder charge was upheld Monday in against patient .

Massey, 37, was held to answer to murder with the special circumstances of lying in wait, murder during a robbery, and murder during a kidnapping, Deputy District Attorney Allison Haley said.

Massey also was held to answer to separate charges of kidnapping and robbery and will re-enter pleas on June 14, Haley said.

Massey is charged with the slaying of psychiatric technician Donna Gross at the hospital on Oct. 23, 2010.

Gross, 54, of Concord died of asphyxiation after she was attacked in an enclosed courtyard a tthe hospital.

Gross took a dinner break around 4:30 p.m. She bought gum at a Target store and checked back in at the hospital at 5:15 p.m., Napa County Sheriff's Capt. Tracey Stuart said.

She was robbed of jewelry, gum and less than $2, Stuart said.

Gross's watch, two necklaces and her earrings were found in Massey's room and the gum was found in a trash can on Massey's ward, Stuart said.

The sheriff's office believes Massey used his hands and arms to strangle Gross, Stuart said.

Another hospital employee, 60-year-old rehabilitation therapist , was attacked at the Napa hospital on Dec. 11, 2010. He was hospitalized for treatment of fractures and was released.

, 24, a hospital patient, was charged with battery and was found mentally incompetent to stand trial. He was returned to Napa State Hospital.

Another patient, , 30, was found incompetent to stand trial for sexually battering a hospital employee in February. He will be sent to a hospital other than Napa State.

The attacks have prompted to call for more safety measures and increased staffing at the 138-acre facility capable of housing 1,362 patients.

By Bay City News Service - read the full report from Napa Patch courtroom correspondent Marsha Dorgan at http://patch.com/A-hg1l