Lexington, Ky. – A Kentucky mother is urgently seeking answers regarding the circumstances surrounding her son’s tragic death following his escape from a hospital. Clay Wooten, 28, was admitted to the University of Kentucky Hospital on November 1 due to a mental health crisis, according to his mother, Lauralee Yocom.
Plans were set in motion to transfer Wooten to Eastern State Hospital; however, at some point, he was moved from a secure hospital room. Subsequently, Wooten managed to escape and was seen running, barefoot and in a hospital gown, toward train tracks on Transcript Avenue. His mother insists that someone must have witnessed this incident. “Someone had to see something,” Yocom stated emphatically. “I need answers, and I will not rest until I have these answers.”
Approximately 20 minutes after his escape, Wooten was found by UK police and brought back to the hospital. Tragically, by this time, he had sustained significant head trauma. Wooten succumbed to his injuries on November 3. Initially, hospital staff informed the family that he had died from lacerations to his neck, but Yocom noted that the coroner’s report is still under investigation.
She expressed doubt about the details provided by the hospital, suggesting they do not align with her instincts as a mother. “My intuition tells me the details don’t add up,” Yocom asserted. She is calling on the local community to review any security footage from that day, urging residents to reconsider their recollections on November 3, in hopes of uncovering vital information.
The ongoing investigation has left the family in distress as they grapple with grief and uncertainty about the events leading to Wooten’s untimely death. Yocom remains resolute in her search for clarity, determined to uncover what truly transpired during those crucial moments.
