MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The FBI and the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs are continuing their investigation into multiple suspicious deaths at the Clarksburg Veterans Affairs facility.
The investigation sparked after at least 10 veterans died at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center. Each patient was on the same floor and received injections of insulin before their deaths. Most had no history of diabetes, and none were supposed to receive the shots.
The FBI and Inspector General do have a person of interest; the Clarksburg facility has said the individual does not work at the hospital at this time.
U.S. Attorney Bill Powell said he understands people want answers, but the offices cannot afford to rush an investigation to get a resolution.
“The pressure’s there. We understand the pressure,” he said. “At the same token, we have to do it in the right way and I think we owe it to the families. That’s what we’re going to continue to do.”
Charleston attorney Tony O’Dell represents some of the families whose loved ones have died. The family of John Hallman, whom O’Dell represents, is planning to sue the Department of Veterans Affairs.
O’Dell said no family should have to wait for the department to address these deaths in a civil setting.
“They should be coming to them, giving them the answers in a report, telling them they’re sorry, paying them what the law says they can pay them, and then let the criminal part take its course,” he said.
The name of another veteran was released Monday; Russ Posey and five others have been named as the investigation moves forward.