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Report: Federal grand jury taking testimony in Clarksburg VA Hospital suspicious deaths

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A federal grand jury is hearing behind-closed-door testimony in connection with at least 11 suspicious deaths at the VA Medical Center in Clarksburg, according to a Thursday report in the Washington Post. 

Russ Posey, left, enjoys time with his wife, Nilva Posey. The World War II veteran died after being treated at the VA hospital in Clarksburg, where several additional suspicious deaths are under investigation.

The newspaper, citing two sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity, reported the grand jury probe began earlier this month at the federal courthouse in Clarksburg. The panel is hearing testimony from nurses and other medical professionals. The report indicated the grand jury meeting could last several months.

MetroNews, the Post and other media outlets have previously reported the investigation is focusing on one person of interest, a former nursing assistant who had access to the rooms of the veterans who died. Autopsies on exhumed bodies have pointed to insulin injections that weren’t needed. The veterans died of low blood sugar level, severe hypoglycemia, which would be caused by insulin shots.

MetroNews has identified as many as seven victims.There have been no charges filed in connection with the deaths.

U.S. Attorney Bill Powell didn’t share much additional light on the investigation during a Wednesday appearance on MetroNews “Talkline.”

“The FBI is continuing its investigation. The VA OIG (Office of Inspector General) is continuing its investigation and we have significant resources from my offices as well as the federal law enforcement folks dedicated to the case and the investigation,” Powell said.

Powell said there’s always a danger of people “promulgating stories” about what’s happening with the investigation that began 19 months ago. Powell said he’s not going to confirm on deny the reports.

“We’ve been in touch with the families and certainly we want it to conclude as quickly and properly as anybody but we’re going to do it the right way,” Powell said. “Until the investigation is complete we’re not to have any substantive comment on who the victims are and what potential crimes have been committed.”

A 7th victim was confirmed last week when Charleston attorney Tony O’Dell, who represents some of the families appeared on MetroNews “Talkline.”

“It’s the night shift and he suffers a severe hypoglycemic event. The person of interest is all through his records. In fact, I believe she was as one-on-one sitter with him that night,” O’Dell said.

The veteran, who died in January 2018, was not a diabetic. O’Dell said his blood glucose level dropped to 27. He died a few days later.

The original cause of death was listed as a bleeding stroke but when reviewing the death investigators wanted to take another look. O’Dell said the body was exhumed last September and the cause of death was changed to undetermined. O’Dell believes insulin injections caused the man’s death like it has the other six veterans.

“The government knows, we know and the family knows the cause of death was a severe hypoglycemic event. The only thing that kept them from calling it a homicide was the inability to find the actual injection marks,” O’Dell said, adding the body had significantly decomposed before it was exhumed.





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