EDITOR’S NOTE: The Dominion Post reporter David Beard is not related to Kylah Beard, one of the defendants in this case.
dbeard@dominionpost.com
MORGANTOWN – A former Hopemont Hospital registered nurse charged with malicious neglect of an incapacitated adult causing death will have her case heard in Preston County Circuit Court.
In a Friday preliminary hearing, Preston County Magistrate Bo Ward found probable cause to bound the case of Delilah Clyburn-Hill (the criminal complaint had an incorrect spelling, used in our prior report) over to circuit court.
Attorney General’s office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Investigator Walt Williams recounted the details of the scalding death of Hopemont resident Larry Hedrick under questioning from Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Christopher Arnold and defense attorney Eric D. Householder.
Hedrick was a nonverbal 61-year-old with dementia and other medical conditions who required total care. Clyburn-Hill was the unit charge nurse the night of Jan. 4, 2024, when Hedrick suffered severe burns in a whirlpool bath that led to his death.
At 7:12 p.m., Certified Nursing Assistant Kylah Beard (who also faces charges in this incident; her Friday preliminary hearing was continued to a future date) placed Hedrick in the bath. Williams noted that the CNAs are trained to test the water and confirm the temperature on the bath’s digital thermostat.
Beard went in and out of the room several times, for a few seconds at a time. The video showed she had a cell phone in her hand, he said.
She realized something was wrong, he said, and went to the nurse’s station to notify Clyburn-Hill, who did not respond. So Beard notified another CNA, who came in an noted the water temperature of 134 degrees Fahrenheit. This CNA also went to notify Clyburn-Hill, who still did not respond.
They sought help from a third CNA, who also attempted, unsuccessfully, to involve Clyburn-Hill. Finally, 25 minutes after the first contact form Beard, Clyburn-Hill came to the bathing room, but left and didn’t return. Video shows her on her cell phone at the nurse station.
So the CNAs (a total of four were ultimately involved, Williams said) contacted the nurse from. the other unit.
Hedrick was moved back to his room. It was observed that flesh was rolling off his lower extremities and there was flesh and blood in the base of the tub.
At 8:54 p.m., more than an hour after She was first notified of the incident, Clyburn-Hill called 911. She also called the doctor in charge to obtain permission to administer morphine to Hedrick.
An ambulance arrived at 9:03 p.m.. Hedrick received morphine at 9:07 p.m. The ambulance left to transport Hedrick to Preston Memorial Hospital at 9:26 p.m. At Preston Memorial, it was determined he had suffered second- and third-degree burns. He was transferred to West Penn Burn Center, where he arrived at 12:51 a.m. On the 5th.
Hedrick died of complications from his burns on Jan. 12, 2024.
Beard’s criminal complaint says she “intentionally and maliciously failed to provide the care necessary to Larry Hedrick’s physical safety or health.” She is also charged with malicious neglect of an incapacitated adult causing death
Clayburn-Hill’s lengthier complaint also cites intentional and malicious failure. It says she failed to conduct a nursing assessment following the incident. She also failed to identify changes in Hedrick’s health status or to comprehend clinical implications of his signs symptoms and changes.
She failed to apply nursing knowledge, the complaint says, and failed to implement appropriate treatment for the injuries, including administering pain medication. She failed to demonstrate attentiveness and monitoring, and failed to explain to the doctor the severity of Hedrick’s condition.
“Hill intentionally and maliciously failed to take preventative measures to protect the patient by allowing Hedrick to suffer from burns and blisters for hours without providing appropriate medical intervention,” the complaint says.
