“We do not have the authority to investigate a death,” Grimes said Tuesday. “What we look for is, what were the policies or procedures that either were or were not in place (with respect to behavioral health services). Where were the gaps? The hope is to correct those things so you can prevent another incident from occurring.”

Bruce Cruser, executive director of Mental Health America of Virginia, said taxpayers have the right to know about deaths that occur in mental hospitals.

“It seems to me anytime there’s a death of someone who the state has custodial responsibility for, the public has a right to know what happened,” Cruser said. “That, to me, is basic.”

If the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Office of the State Inspector General were able to release information about Mitchell after their investigations, it would seem the agencies should be able to provide information about the person who died at Central State, Cruser said.

Reppas said the department was able to share information about Mitchell because he never was admitted into Eastern State.

Cruser said because Mitchell was receiving health care, even though it was from the jail and not the state hospital, it would seem the laws would be the same in either case.