CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Attorney General Patrick Morrisey announced on Wednesday that two staff members at a long-term care facility in northern West Virginia have been charged in connection with the death of a patient who was left in a scalding hot bathtub a year ago.
Registered nurse Delilah Clyburn-Hill and certified nursing assistant Kylah Beard are facing charges of felony neglect of an incapacitated adult by a caregiver, according to a news release issued by Morrisey.
The incident in question took place at Hopemont Hospital, a 98-bed facility located in the Preston County community of Terra Alta. Larry Hedrick, 61, a nonverbal patient in need of constant care, was submerged in 134-degree Fahrenheit (56.7 Celsius) water for 47 minutes on Jan. 4, 2024. Hedrick later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Pittsburgh a week after the incident.
An investigation conducted by Morrisey’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit revealed that Beard assisted Hedrick into the bathtub but neglected to check the water temperature gauge, resulting in second- and third-degree burns and blisters on Hedrick’s feet and legs.
Clyburn-Hill, upon being informed of the burns and blisters, allegedly failed to provide the appropriate treatment and therapy for Hedrick’s injuries, including the administration of pain medication.
As of now, it remains unclear whether Clyburn-Hill or Beard have legal representation. Attempts to reach Clyburn-Hill for comment were unsuccessful, while Beard could not be directly contacted. Preston County Prosecutor Jay Shay has approved the criminal charges, and both Clyburn-Hill and Beard are set to make their initial appearance in Preston County Magistrate Court on Jan. 29.
Morrisey, who is set to assume the role of governor in the coming week, described the case as “very disturbing,” emphasizing the need for accountability in the tragic death of Larry Hedrick, who was under the care of medical professionals at the time of the incident.
