WATERLOO - Covenant Medical Center officials have released a statement regarding the release of Mark D. Becker from the hospital Tuesday.

Becker, the 24-year-old Parkersburg man accused of gunning down legendary high school football coach Ed Thomas Wednesday morning, had been hospitalized at Covenant following his arrest Saturday night for vandalism and eluding officers. Cedar Falls police said Becker was to undergo a psychiatric evaluation at the hospital, and that police were to be notified when he was released from custody because charges were pending related to the vandalism.

Police said Becker was released Tuesday night and spent the night at his parents' house. No call went out to county deputies to detain him, authorities said.

Chris Hyers, vice president of business development at Covenant, released the following statement:

"This is a sad time for the family, friends and community that loved and respected Coach Thomas. The Covenant Medical Center family joins those praying for his family and others involved in this tragedy. We recognize Coach Thomas' extraordinary contribution to high school athletics, young people and the community. He will be greatly missed.

"There are many questions surrounding the hospitalization and release of the individual being held in connection with the shooting death of Coach Thomas. We initiated an internal review early yesterday and declined public comment in order to provide the most complete and accurate information possible. The Division of Criminal Investigation publicly disclosed Mr. Becker's recent hospitalization and evaluation yesterday at a news conference.

"Had the record indicated a request to contact law enforcement at the time of discharge, we would have honored the request by making the notification. Our review shows no evidence of this request, so notification was not made. It is always our goal to work cooperatively with law enforcement and carry out requests for notification as we have done many times before. Care delivery and patient discharge are governed by complex federal and state laws and regulations that were followed by Covenant Medical Center's professionals. Discharge, in this case, was to a third party.

"As the community seeks to make sense of a senseless tragedy, we will support the needs of law enforcement as we always do, while living up to our legal requirements regarding the confidentiality of our patients."