A Norwich judge has ruled that William Adamson, who was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the 2001 shooting death of a Salem business owner, no longer needs to be under the supervision of the state Psychiatric Security Review Board.

Adamson, 65, is living in Manchester and is under the care of community mental health providers, court records show.

According to court documents and news stories, he was in the throes of psychosis and had come to believe he needed to kill someone in order to obtain magical powers when he shot Steven "Rex" Roesler, 38, of Baltic outside of Roesler's computer store in the Salem Marketplace on Dec. 5, 2001. Adamson first considered killing a state trooper who pulled over to assist him on Route 85, but stopped when the image of the officer's family flashed in his head.

He was committed to the PSRB's custody for up to 64 years in 2003 after a three-judge panel heard testimony about Adamson's lengthy history of mental illness and drug and alcohol abuse. A psychologist testified that Adamson suffered from paranoid-type schizophrenia and suffered from auditory hallucinations and delusional beliefs when not properly medicated. His symptoms were aggravated by his frequent use of LSD, marijuana and alcohol.

He initially lived at the Whiting Forensic Institution, the state's hospital for the criminally insane, but in late 2008 was released to a less restrictive setting where he continued to receive treatment and be screened for substance abuse.

Adamson applied to be discharged from the PSRB's oversight in December 2014. The board, citing the gravity of his criminal offense, found he continued to require supervision and treatment and denied his application. The board wrote in its decision that Adamson's community providers still recommended monthly drug screens and biweekly meetings with a conditional release supervisor.

Adamson applied again in January 2016, and the board noted that he had remained stable and compliant with the conditions of his release even after his drug and alcohol screenings were eliminated and meetings with his supervisor were reduced to once a month. The board recommended to the court that it discharge Adamson from its care.

"He continues to demonstrate a strong engagement with his community providers and an understanding of the importance of having a support network," the board reported. "He also remains active in the recovery community, articulating his strong commitment to abstain from drugs and alcohol."

Superior Court Judge Arthur C. Hadden, a member of the initial three-judge panel that committed Adamson to the PSRB's care, heard testimony at a November 2016 hearing from two doctors who had evaluated Adamson and concluded he would not pose a danger to himself or others if released from the PSRB's jurisdiction.

In a decision issued Monday, Hadden wrote that he agrees with the doctors' conclusions, noting Adamson has not exhibited violent behavior since his arrest, has remained committed to abstaining from drugs and alcohol and to continuing treatment and has established and maintained a support system. Though Adamson continues to suffer from psychiatric disabilities, they are in remission and do not render him a danger to himself or others, Hadden wrote.

The judge noted in his decision that Roesler's family had sent letters to the court objecting to Adamson's discharge.

"The victim's family appropriately pointed out the extreme nature of the offense and the uncertainty of recovery from psychiatric illness and substance abuse," the judge wrote.

k.florin@theday.com