Ex-All Star reliever Reardon freed of court supervision in robbery case

[Outdoors Junkie]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Former All-Star relief pitcher Jeff Reardon was released from court supervision Thursday, a year after being found not guilty by reason of insanity for robbing a jewelry store.



"I'm glad to have it behind me and just try to get on with my life," Reardon said in a telephone interview after the court hearing. "I'm doing much better."



Reardon, 52, walked into Hamilton Jewelers in Palm Beach Gardens in December 2005 and handed an employee a note saying he had a gun and the store was being robbed. He fled with about $170. He did not have a gun.



After being found not guilty, Reardon was ordered by the court to seek counseling for a year. He will continue seeing a therapist but is not required to do so, said his attorney, Mitch Beers.



"The latest report is that he is doing well, he is normal and he's overcome a lot of the depression," Beers said. "He's fine now."



Psychiatrists testified during his trial last year that Reardon was under the influence of a dozen prescription medications and that there was no reasonable explanation for the robbery.



The medications reacted and caused Reardon to exhibit emotionally unstable, hostile and manic behavior, Beers said.



Reardon, who played in two World Series, said he was taking antidepressants and mood stabilizers in part because he was distraught over the 2004 drug-overdose death of his 20-year-old son.



He retired in 1994 and ranks sixth in career saves. Reardon made about $11.5 million during his career and said he was not having financial problems.



"It had nothing to do with his finances," Beers said. "He just had a break."



The four-time All-Star was 73-77 with 367 saves and a 3.16 ERA in 16 seasons with the New York Mets, Montreal Expos, Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds and New York Yankees.