PORT ANGELES — Bruce Rowan, the former Olympic Medical Center emergency room doctor who bludgeoned his wife to death in 1998 and was found innocent by reason of insanity, can begin looking for a new apartment.
After making four minor changes, Clallam County Superior Court Judge George Wood on Friday signed Rowan’s conditional release order from Western State Hospital in Steilacoom, near Tacoma.
The release allows Rowan to live off the Western State campus, provided he continues to take his medication and follow other restrictions.
Rowan has indicated he would seek residence in Pierce County. A spokeswoman for Western State said the release process takes one to two months.
Determined to be experiencing a psychotic episode while he killed his wife, Deborah, Rowan in 2004 had been able to leave the hospital and travel out of state to visit family members. This marks the first time he will be able to live on his own in the community
Rowan, attorney David Allen and Western State therapist Richard Tomko appeared before Judge Wood in a telephone conference call Friday.
Rowan was counted as present, but did not say anything.
