Hinckley ‘not stalker’

Press, 7 May 1981, Page 6

Hinckley ‘not stalker’

NZPA Washington A 1200-page summary of the American Federal Bureau of Investigation’s first month of investigation into the assassination attempt on President Reagan concludes that John Hinckley was not stalking Mr Reagan or anyone else, a published report says. Hinckley, who is charged with trying to kill Mr Reagan, is instead portrayed in the summary sent Federal prosecutors as a confused university drop-out who used money from his wealthy par-

ents to wander aimlessly, the “Washington Post” said. “There doesn’t seem to be any information that he was stalking anybody,” the “Post” quoted an unnamed law-en-forcement official as saying. “While some officials suspect Hinckley may have stalked former President Carter, the general consensus among investigators is that no evidence has surfaced to support that' theory,” the newspaper said. The summary reiterates previous reports that Hinckley’s fascination for the actress, Jody Foster, was be-

hind some of his extensive travels. “Investigators also still believe the assassination attempt sprang from an apparent desire to impress Ms Foster,” the “Post” said. Hinckley, who is 25, is now undergoing psychological tests in North Carolina. The “Post” quoted officials as saying those tests are expected to take several more weeks and an indictment in the case is not expected for at least two months. Mr Reagan, wounded in the chest with a 22-calibre bullet, was in hospital for 12 days. - -