Man accused in mall kidnapping still being held at mental hospital

A Chicago man accused in the attempted kidnapping of a toddler last year at Spring Hill Mall will remain indefinitely in the care of Elgin Mental Health Center, his attorney said Tuesday.

Arthur C. Robinzine, 20, was admitted to the facility about six months ago and maintains access to "secure" areas outside on the hospital grounds, said Kane County public defender Tom McCulloch.

Whether Robinzine is released anytime soon or transferred elsewhere would be at the recommendation of the Illinois Department of Human Services, to whom he was officially remanded last week. McCulloch said any such changes would require court approval.

"They will gradually integrate him back into society," McCulloch said, "but they will have to go through the court to do that."

Police said Robinzine appeared disoriented when he grabbed a child from Elgin's Two Rivers Head Start program Dec. 6 at Spring Hill Mall in West Dundee. A field trip chaperon tackled Robinzine, who was later charged with kidnapping, among other offenses.

In July, Robinzine, a former University of Illinois-Chicago student, was found not guilty by reason of insanity.