By JEREMY P. MEYER and ALLISON SHERRY
The Denver Post
The University of Colorado Denver psychiatrist seeing accused murderer James Eagan Holmes was so alarmed by his behavior that she notified the campus-wide threat-assessment team that she helped create years before, a source told The Denver Post.
Dr. Lynne Fenton, identified in a court document as Holmes' psychiatrist, in June took her concerns to members of the campus' Behavioral Evaluation and Threat Assessment team, but no further action was taken, a source with knowledge of the process told The Post.
University officials could not confirm or deny the report, citing the federal health privacy law and a judge's gag order in the case against Holmes.
The information was first reported late Wednesday by Denver's KMGH-TV, 7News. The station, citing unnamed sources, reported that CU-Denver officials did not contact Aurora police before the July 20 massacre at the Century Aurora 16 theater that killed 12 people and injured 58 others. There was no mention in the report of whether CU-Denver police were notified.
The Anschutz Medical Campus, where Holmes, 24, was enrolled in a doctoral program, is in Aurora.
He has been charged with 24 counts of first-degree murder and 116 counts of attempted murder in the case.
Fenton, director of student mental health services on the Anschutz Medical Campus, in 2010 was involved in the creation of the campus BETA team. The team is an ad hoc group of high-level CU academic employees skilled at assessing potential threats on campus. The group does not include CU-Denver police.
University Chancellor Don Elliman said Wednesday, "I believe, until it's been demonstrated otherwise, that our people did what they should have done."
In April 2010, Fenton was among three people who gave a presentation about the creation of the BETA team to the Academic and Student Affairs Leadership committee. The team will be a "way to determine when student action moves from an academic concern only to a broader campus concern," according to minutes from the meeting.
"One of the most difficult aspects is knowing when immediate action is required, or if there is time to convene the BETA team to discuss the issues," the minutes say.
"Generally, if you believe the threat is imminent, call campus police. If you think it's best to involve the BETA team, contact Lynne Fenton," the minutes say.
Fenton no longer is a BETA team leader but remains an adviser to the program, CU officials said.
CU's website says the BETA team is available whenever faculty, staff or student community members are confronted with people they believe are threatening, disruptive or otherwise problematic.
The team provides guidance and consultation and may make referrals to appropriate campus or community resources. It is not a law enforcement mechanism, said CU officials in a statement released Wednesday.
7News reported Wednesday that a source said Fenton first contacted the BETA team in "the first 10 days" of June, but the team didn't meet or move the matter forward because Holmes began the process of leaving CU.
Under a federal rule followed by psychiatrists, Fenton had a duty to take action if Holmes told her of a specific plan to harm others.
The revelation that Fenton was Holmes' psychiatrist came in a motion by Holmes' defense attorneys made public last week. That information has since been blacked out in the document posted on the Colorado State Judicial Branch's website.
Holmes had sent a package with a notebook to Fenton before the attack, according to court papers made public last week.
Fox News, citing unnamed law enforcement sources, said the package was sent several days before the attack and contained details about his murderous plan.
The university has said the package was delivered on July 23 and immediately turned over to authorities.
Staff writer Lynn Bartels and Staffer Charles Minshew contributed to this story.
The Denver Post
The University of Colorado Denver psychiatrist seeing accused murderer James Eagan Holmes was so alarmed by his behavior that she notified the campus-wide threat-assessment team that she helped create years before, a source told The Denver Post.
Dr. Lynne Fenton, identified in a court document as Holmes' psychiatrist, in June took her concerns to members of the campus' Behavioral Evaluation and Threat Assessment team, but no further action was taken, a source with knowledge of the process told The Post.
University officials could not confirm or deny the report, citing the federal health privacy law and a judge's gag order in the case against Holmes.
The information was first reported late Wednesday by Denver's KMGH-TV, 7News. The station, citing unnamed sources, reported that CU-Denver officials did not contact Aurora police before the July 20 massacre at the Century Aurora 16 theater that killed 12 people and injured 58 others. There was no mention in the report of whether CU-Denver police were notified.
The Anschutz Medical Campus, where Holmes, 24, was enrolled in a doctoral program, is in Aurora.
He has been charged with 24 counts of first-degree murder and 116 counts of attempted murder in the case.
Fenton, director of student mental health services on the Anschutz Medical Campus, in 2010 was involved in the creation of the campus BETA team. The team is an ad hoc group of high-level CU academic employees skilled at assessing potential threats on campus. The group does not include CU-Denver police.
University Chancellor Don Elliman said Wednesday, "I believe, until it's been demonstrated otherwise, that our people did what they should have done."
In April 2010, Fenton was among three people who gave a presentation about the creation of the BETA team to the Academic and Student Affairs Leadership committee. The team will be a "way to determine when student action moves from an academic concern only to a broader campus concern," according to minutes from the meeting.
"One of the most difficult aspects is knowing when immediate action is required, or if there is time to convene the BETA team to discuss the issues," the minutes say.
"Generally, if you believe the threat is imminent, call campus police. If you think it's best to involve the BETA team, contact Lynne Fenton," the minutes say.
Fenton no longer is a BETA team leader but remains an adviser to the program, CU officials said.
CU's website says the BETA team is available whenever faculty, staff or student community members are confronted with people they believe are threatening, disruptive or otherwise problematic.
The team provides guidance and consultation and may make referrals to appropriate campus or community resources. It is not a law enforcement mechanism, said CU officials in a statement released Wednesday.
7News reported Wednesday that a source said Fenton first contacted the BETA team in "the first 10 days" of June, but the team didn't meet or move the matter forward because Holmes began the process of leaving CU.
Under a federal rule followed by psychiatrists, Fenton had a duty to take action if Holmes told her of a specific plan to harm others.
The revelation that Fenton was Holmes' psychiatrist came in a motion by Holmes' defense attorneys made public last week. That information has since been blacked out in the document posted on the Colorado State Judicial Branch's website.
Holmes had sent a package with a notebook to Fenton before the attack, according to court papers made public last week.
Fox News, citing unnamed law enforcement sources, said the package was sent several days before the attack and contained details about his murderous plan.
The university has said the package was delivered on July 23 and immediately turned over to authorities.
Staff writer Lynn Bartels and Staffer Charles Minshew contributed to this story.
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