"Some family members have expressed fear and anxiety over ever needing care in a nursing facility because trust has been broken." That is what Deb Klingler of Bluffton had to say to the court in the case of her mother's death earlier this year.
Klingler gave an impact statement as two former employees of Hilty Memorial Home in Pandora were sentenced in the Putnam County Common Pleas Court for their roles in the death of her mother, Alzheimer's and Dementia patient Phyllis Campbell, 76. According to the coroner, Campbell froze to death after spending around 10 hours outside in early January.
Destini Fenbert, 20, and Rachel Friesel, 36, both plead guilty to one count forgery, a fifth-degree felony, and one count of gross patient neglect, a first-degree misdemeanor.
Two of Campbell's children and three of her grandchildren gave victim impact statements before the court urging the judge against much leniency.
"I ask that these girls get as much of a punishment as they can get," said Steve Campbell of Findlay, Phyllis's son, in his statement. "My mom pleaded for her life and nobody was there to help her. My poor mother died and suffered in one of the most horrendous ways possible, and it was all totally preventable."
Both defendants, now employed at other businesses, received sentences of 60 days in the Putnam County Jail with eligibility for work release, as well as 100 hours of community service and five years probation. Fenbert says she hopes that what happened to Campbell will serve as a warning to other healthcare professionals of what can happen when a protocol is not followed.
"I hope that if any good can come from this situation, it's that other aides, nurses, and care facilities learn from my mistakes to prevent this from happening to anybody else," said Fenbert.
Friesel, who was the one to find Campbell's body, also expressed remorse to the family but according to her attorney Gary Smith the wrong people are being held accountable for the death, a sentiment echoed by Friesel.
"If the home would have proper working alarms, [and] the two aides and the nurses did their proper jobs before I came in, maybe your mother would still be alive today," said Friesel.
Putnam County Prosecutor Gary Lammers says that the state brought what charges they could against what individuals they could and that it is not out of the question for other employees and superiors to be charged in relation to the case should more information come to light.
"Potentially could be, should facts and circumstances come to light that would create that type of culpability," says Lammers. "These were employees that were connected and employed by the facility and I felt that they were directly responsible."
Still to come is the trial for the third former employee to be charged in the case. Megan Schnipke is expected to appear in court on Monday, November 5, 2018.
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Two former Hilty Home employees take plea deal
