Mom Pleads For Help In Finding Mentally Disturbed Son After Release From OC Jail
SANTA ANA (CBS) — The mother of a mentally disturbed man asked for the public's help Tuesday in finding her son after he was released from prison without notifying his parents.
KNX 1070's Mike Landa reports 18-year-old Matthew Hoff has no money, no phone and no known living arrangements.
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Hoff -- who has been under psychiatric care since age 5 for bipolar and personality disorders — was released from the Orange County Jail in Santa Ana on Feb. 17.
His mother Jennifer said she's upset that no one alerted her to the impending release of her son.
"It's not OK to not know where my son is," Jennifer said.
After being confined to mental health facilities since he was 12, Hoff was placed in several residential treatment centers after he turned 18, but eventually ended up on the streets after being kicked out for drug and behavior problems.
Now Jennifer is worried for her own son's safety — and the public at large.
"Matthew behaves in ways that are inherently dangerous," she said. "He's not running around with a machete trying to cut your head off, and that's all the county wants to look at."
Hoff is described as having auburn hair, a very light complexion and brown eyes. He is approximately 5'10" tall and 140 pounds and has a tattoo of a Smurf character on his right forearm.
Anyone with information on Hoff is asked to contact the Orange County Department of Behavioral Health's CAT team at 714-517-6353 and his parents at 714-759-HELP (4357).
