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Simants granted more freedoms at Regional Center

The man locked away for killing six members of the Henry Kellie family in Sutherland in 1975 has had his family visits extended from two to four per year.

Monday in District Court, Erwin Charles Simants was also granted permission to work on the Lincoln Regional Center's Property outside of confinement, but the outings will remain supervised.

Simants undergoes a review every year to determine whether or not he's mentally stable and whether he can be released back into society. This year, psychiatrist Dr. Klaus Hartmann decided that although Simants "has been an exemplary patient for over 25 years," he is still mentally ill. As in previous years, it was also determined that Simants' illness remains in remission as long as he's not exposed to drugs or alcohol.

Simants will be allowed to continue his therapeutic outings off facility grounds as long as staff members are with him. Law enforcement will still have to be alerted 15 minutes prior to him venturing outside the compound.

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