Suspect returned to county

Wednesday, May 22, 2002 | 10:59 a.m.

A Las Vegas man facing charges of killing a prostitute and running over a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper is on his way back to Clark County after trying to escape from a mental health facility, authorities said.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Robert Daskas said he was told that officials at Lakes Crossing in Sparks are returning Vornelius Phillips to the Clark County Detention Center because he recently tried to escape from the facility.

Daskas said he had no details of the alleged escape attempt and Sparks Police said they were unaware of the attempt.

Phillips was sent to Lake's Crossing in January for mental evaluations because his attorneys said he would only speak to them in "gibberish." Prosecutors have long said that Phillips has been faking incompetence to avoid trial in the death of Ivy Jean Miller.

Betsy Neighbors, Lake's Crossing director, declined to comment on the alleged attempted escape, citing patient confidentiality.

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