Holly Hill Patient Escapes, Found in Cary Raises Security Concerns

An adult patient left Holly Hill psychiatric hospital in Raleigh on December 27, 2025, and was later found in Cary and returned to the facility, officials confirmed. Family members say the patient was able to take staff keys and walk out, an allegation that has renewed calls from families and advocates for stronger safeguards and improved staffing at the hospital.

Officials at the hospital told reporters the facility is in compliance with state regulators, and declined to provide further details on security measures or the specific circumstances surrounding the escape, citing patient privacy. Raleigh police confirmed the department responded to two incidents this year involving individuals connected to Holly Hill, underscoring a pattern that residents and advocates find troubling.

The escape comes after previous reports of other patients leaving Holly Hill campuses and ongoing concerns about staffing levels and resources. Families interviewed said their trust has been shaken and they fear that inadequate staffing or lax procedures could endanger both patients and the broader community. Advocates called not only for internal changes at the hospital but for broader reforms in the state mental health system so patients are placed in settings that match their needs and can be supervised safely.

Local public safety officials say responding to escapes places additional strain on law enforcement and emergency services, particularly when incidents occur during holiday weeks. For neighbors and families in Wake County, the incident revives questions about transparency and accountability at facilities that care for people with serious behavioral health needs. Community leaders and some family members are pushing for clearer reporting on incidents, independent oversight of safety protocols, and investment in staffing so that secure measures can be maintained without compromising patient care.

Mental health privacy laws limit what hospital officials can disclose about individual patients, complicating public understanding of how and why escapes happen. That tension between confidentiality and community safety is central to calls for change. Families and advocates say they want assurances that regulators and hospital administrators will act on systemic problems rather than treat escapes as isolated events.

City and county officials have been urged to review placement practices and oversight of psychiatric facilities serving Wake County residents. For now, Holly Hill remains under regulatory oversight, and hospital leaders say they are in compliance. Families and community advocates say they will continue to press for reforms aimed at preventing future escapes and ensuring both patient welfare and public safety.