The tragic death of Frances 'Faye' Phelps at the hands of Elliot Cameron has laid bare the deep flaws in New Zealand's mental health system. Cameron, who had a well-documented history of violence, including the 1983 murder of his sister Frances Cameron, was allowed to leave a Christchurch mental health facility in recent years despite making repeated threats to kill if discharged. Cameron, now in his 70s, had spent over 50 years in mental health facilities, mostly in a voluntary capacity since 2016. His recent release from Hillmorton Hospital appears to have been a catastrophic oversight. While he was not under any legal obligation to remain at the hospital, he had previously refused to leave, citing threats of violence if forced out. Despite these red flags, authorities failed to act decisively. On October 4, 2024, Cameron traveled from Hillmorton Hospital to Faye Phelps’ home in Mount Pleasant. After meeting her outside her garage, he attacked her with an axe, leaving her body and the weapon outside her home. He then returned to the hospital, where he confessed to staff. However, no immediate police action was taken, and it took days for her body to be discovered by her lawnmowing contractor. Police initially downplayed the call reporting Cameron’s confession, coding it as a low-priority incident. It wasn’t until a second report from hospital staff indicated that Cameron had retracted his confession that the case was reassessed. By then, it was too late. Faye Phelps’ daughter, Karen, has been vocal about the failures that led to her mother's death. She expressed frustration that Cameron was allowed to work unsupervised as a gardener for over a decade, during which he could have posed a risk. A police check would have revealed nothing, as Cameron had no criminal record—only a history of violent acts within the mental health system. Karen criticized Hillmorton Hospital for its disorganization and lack of transparency. The hospital had no records of Cameron’s history prior to 1999, despite his first violent crime occurring in 1983. She also expressed concern that Cameron had been interacting with a neighbor’s son in the weeks before the attack, asking the same question repeatedly and not seeming to take in the answer, a sign of declining mental health. This tragedy is not unique. In 2022, another Hillmorton patient, Zakariye Hussein, killed an innocent woman in a random knife attack while on community leave. That incident triggered two reviews into the hospital’s management of high-risk patients and its secure unit. Yet, despite these tragedies, the system appears to remain broken. Te Whatu Ora, the regional health authority, has acknowledged the incident and confirmed a full review is underway. However, victims' families are left with unanswered questions and a deep sense of betrayal. The system that was supposed to protect the public has failed time and again. As the investigation continues, one thing is clear: the mental health system in New Zealand must be overhauled. Patients like Cameron must be closely monitored, and the risks they pose to the public must be taken seriously. Until then, more tragedies like this one are inevitable.