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The Baltimore State Hospital For The Criminally Insane, located in Baltimore, Maryland, is a state facility housing the criminally insane and those whose sanity is being evaluated for the criminal justice system. The general administrator of the hospital was Dr. Frederick Chilton. One notable patient was Dr Hannibal Lecter, the infamous cannibalistic serial killer.acquitted.

Novels[]

Red Dragon[]

The hospital was initially named the Chesapeake Hospital for the Criminally Insane. It held some of the country’s most dangerous and disturbed criminals. It was a maximum security facility and was under the strictest security conditions possible. It had many levels to the hospital, with the most dangerous patients were housed in the lowest part. Under the watch of its last administrator Dr Frederick Chilton, any mail that an inmate received was thoroughly checked and freed of staples. Visitors were warned not to approach certain cells, pass anything that could aid escape or accept anything from them. These security measures were put in place because of the hospital’s most infamous inmate, Dr Hannibal Lecter. Lecter was admitted in 1975 for committing nine murders, involving cannibalism. Initially cooperating with therapy under the previous administrator, and enjoying slightly relaxed security, in 1976 he complained of chest pains. However this was a ruse, and proceeded to maul a nurse who treated him, tearing out her tongue and eating it. After this he was put under the highest security possible.

In 1980, Will Graham, the man responsible for Lecter's capture, went to see Lecter for advice on the "Tooth Fairy" killings. After a tense chat about their histories, Lecter gave a clue that the killer was probably disfigured. Lecter sent a coded message to the killer, Francis Dolarhyde, to kill Will's family. After Dolarhyde's death, Lecter sent a letter to Will.

The Silence of the Lambs[]

In 1983, Clarice Starling was instructed to interview Lecter and assist the FBI in capturing "Buffalo Bill", a serial killer who has killed and skinned at least five women. Lecter and Starling developed a curious "quid pro quo" relationship during the investigation. Lecter would offer insight into the killer, so long as Starling gave information on her troubled childhood. After Bill's sixth victim is found, and not long after Catherine Martin is abducted by the killer, Jack Crawford offers a false offer to Lecter. Dr Chilton, Lecter's hated keeper, reveals that the deal is fake and demands to tell him who Buffalo Bill is. Lecter replied that his first name is William. He is soon transferred to a holding house in Memphis, Tennessee. Unbeknown to all, Lecter has over the years has fashioned a handcuff key, made from two pens left by careless visitors. After being transferred to Memphis under the botched care of Dr Chilton, Lecter escaped custody. Chilton disappeared soon after and the hospital closed.

Known staff[]

Known patients[]

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