Letter: Richland rapist belongs in prison, not a mental institution

Regarding the story, “Richland rapist given grounds privileges while locked up in state psychiatric hospital,” (TCH, April 10), the victim in this case is a friend of mine, and some of the facts have not been told to the public.

Kevin Forsythe’s victim was five months pregnant at the time of the rape. She bit his arm and he exploded into a rage, trying to break her neck. A doctor stated that Forsythe nearly succeeded in breaking her neck. This should have been grounds for charging him with attempted murder. Her baby died 42 days after birth, probably because of effects from the attack.

The victim was felony stalked before and after the crime — there were death threats, as well as threats to return and complete the murder. By Forsythe’s own admission, he premeditated these crimes, then eluded police for more than five years.

Forsythe should be in prison, not a mental institution, because his mental state at the time of the attack could not possibly be known — he was not examined until five years after the attack.

This story was originally published May 22, 2016 at 1:31 AM with the headline "Letter: Richland rapist belongs in prison, not a mental institution."