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School Stabbings Suspect Temporarily Released From Detention Center

PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) - A teenager accused in a mass stabbing at Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville was temporarily released from a detention center Wednesday.

Alex Hribal was let out of the Westmoreland County Juvenile Detention Center for one hour in order to attend a visitation following the death of his grandmother.

Hribal laid down in the backseat of the vehicle and couldn't be seen as he was escorted by Westmoreland County sheriff's deputies Wednesday afternoon.

On Tuesday, his attorney Pat Thomassey filed for the teen to be taken from the county detention center to the Saloom-Rega Funeral Home in Mount Pleasant.

Retha Hribal, 86, passed away Monday after a lengthy illness with dementia.

Her grandson was granted an hour to say goodbye before the viewing with limited family members present.

Deputies remained alongside Hribal the entire time.

"He is fully restrained with leg shackles," Westmoreland County Sheriff Jonathan Held said. "We do have to be aware of the possibility of an attempted escape or harm to him by somebody else."

This marks the first time Hribal has left the detention center since allegedly stabbing 20 fellow students at Franklin Regional High School in April, critically injuring four. All have made full recoveries.

Thomassey says his client is not doing well and is trying to get him moved to a psychiatric ward.

"He's deteriorating, I believe, in the juvenile jail, Thomassey said. "He's not getting any psychiatric help and he really needs it. He's sorry for everything. He's still trying to figure out where he is I think."

A hearing is scheduled Sept. 26 in Westmoreland County Court on defense attorney Patrick Thomassey's request to move the youth to Adelphoi Village, a secure residential treatment facility in Derry Township.

In August, Thomassey said plans to ask a Westmoreland County judge to move the case to juvenile court. Thomassey also filed a motion asking the judge to delay the Oct. 6 trial so he could file motions in the case.

Hribal will not attend his grandmother's funeral Thursday because he's not allowed to be around crowds.

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