Facing arson charges for allegedly trying to burn his own dental office, St. Paul dentist Jack Shepard fled Minnesota 32 years ago for Italy. He’s been in Rome ever since, but files for elected office so often, it’s hard to keep track of his many runs for U.S. Congress.
He’s running again… this time for the seat currently held by U.S. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., as an Independence Party candidate. (The party does not plan to endorse him at the party convention on Saturday, and has two other choices to pick from).
Aside from legalizing medical marijuana, his nearly single-issue platform includes a simple request: he wants to come home.
Shepard, who is now in his late 60s, argues that he was dehydrated from heavy exercise while court-ordered to take lithium, the kind of drug that gets monitored better today than 32 years ago. That may have contributed to some heavy mood swings and manic periods, though he’s not confirming or denying he actually committed the arson he’s accused of.
At least one Minnesota psychiatrist sees the “exercise might have made me do it” hypothesis as potentially valid. See the letter below.
Shepard, a convicted felon, has previous convictions for sexual misconduct and possession of prescription pain pills he did not have a prescription for (Shepard maintains he was, in fact, licensed to have the pills), and he has not finished serving probation in at least one of those cases.
To Whom It May Concern
Re: Jack Shepard DDS
I have had several extensive telephone calls with Dr Shepard and reviewed materials that he has sent
me. Dr. Shepard has Bipolar Affective Disorder. He had a severe and protracted manic episode about
30 years ago while living in the Twin Cities. He engaged in a number of poor judgment activities and
even spent a brief period in jail. He apparently became toxic on lithium due to severe exercise and fluid
loss. When my patients on lithium exercise heavily, I very regularly check lithium levels. It does not
sound like his lithium level was monitored with enough frequency. In the current psychiatric practice,
he would likely be committed as mentally ill based on the severity of the illness. In similar situations,
manic patients are not aware of right and wrong. He was facing legal charges again, panicked, and left
the United States for Italy. He has resided in Italy for the past 30 years and has resumed his dental
practice. As best as I can tell, his bipolar disorder has been stable during his time in Italy. Dr. Shepard
wants to move back to the Twin Cities, but still faces a legal charge from 30 years ago. He is trying to
negotiate a return whereby he would gladly serve the community. I have assured Dr. Shepard that
should he return to the Twin Cities, I would assume his psychiatric care on a regular basis.
Barry Rittberg MD
University of Minnesota
2450 Riverside Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55454