Man who stabbed family
approved for group home

---

By Gary T. Kubota
gkubota@starbulletin.com

WAILUKU >> A Maui man who fatally stabbed his mother and injured three family members 22 years ago is scheduled to be released soon from Hawaii State Hospital in Kaneohe into a supervised group home.

Benjamin C. Andrion, 45, is expected to live in a cottage under 24-hour supervision, state health officials said.

Andrion was acquitted by reason of insanity on Aug. 4, 1980, and has spent some 22 years in state custody and mental health treatment.

The cottage is located just outside the hospital grounds, and state mental health officials have assured the court that Andrion will receive close supervision, including medication to treat his schizophrenia, deputy prosecutor Kevin Jenkins said.

Dana Ishibashi, the attorney representing the state health director, said Andrion poses a very "mild and minimal threat" to anyone, including himself.

"He will be rigidly supervised," Ishibashi said.

Acting Maui Circuit Judge Rhonda Loo on Wednesday granted the transfer to the group home after a psychologist who had previously opposed the conditional release changed his mind upon further evaluation.

Jenkins said the prosecutor's office did not oppose the conditional release.

Andrion was released to a Windward Oahu transitional program in 1997 and a group home in 1999.

But at his request, he was recommitted after allegedly missing appointments, failing to pick up his medication and becoming drunk.

He was the subject of a manhunt for two days after walking off the grounds of the Hawaii State Hospital on Oct. 23, 2000. He returned on his own to the facility.

Andrion fatally stabbed his 63-year-old mother and wounded his sister, father and 17-month-old nephew at their Kahului home on March 27, 1980.