Mar 23, 2015 2 min read

A Smith Township man awaiting trial in the 2013 murder of a Brooke County, W.Va., man escaped Monday afternoon from a psychiatric hospital in Weston, W.Va.

Rocco Jesse Zuccaro, 30, whose last known address was Harmon Creek Road, Burgettstown, was at the William J. Sharpe Jr. Hospital when he escaped about 4:20 p.m., according to a news release issued by the West Virginia state police.

Zuccaro is accused in the Feb. 18, 2013, shooting death of Jason Pratz. Pratz was found shot to death outside his Wellsburg home. Zuccaro, who was reportedly the last person seen with Pratz, was arrested two months after the shooting.

Smith Township police Chief Bernie LaRue said his department was notified of Zuccaro’s escape by the Brooke County sheriff’s department.

“We don’t know if he is making his move back to his family,” LaRue said Monday night. “His trial was delayed a few times while his mental capacity was evaluated.”

“No one is sure of his state of mind,” he added. “But we are looking out for him.”

Zuccaro is 6 feet tall, weighs 170 pounds, has dark hair, mustache and was last seen wearing black pants with a rip in the left leg, dark blue or black pullover shirt and glasses.

LaRue said anyone with information on his whereabouts should call 911. He also said he should not be approached.