A nurse, patient and two psychiatric assistants are facing criminal charges in the 2022 death of a patient, The Columbus Dispatch reported March 1.
On July 23, 2022, a 57-year-old Paul Fusik was killed by blunt force injury to the head, according to a Franklin County Coroner's Office report. Danny Macklin, a 24-year-old patient, allegedly assaulted Mr. Fusik while they were both staying at Columbus, Ohio-based Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare. Details around the assault, what may have caused it or the involvement of the medical personnel have not been disclosed.
"When hospital leadership became aware of the details of the incident that occurred, the Ohio State Highway Patrol was notified, and the staff members involved were placed on administrative leave," a hospital spokesperson told Becker's. "The Patrol began their investigation and we also began an administrative investigation, during which time one employee resigned and two others retired."
John Traylor, 65, Augustine Norris, 66, both psychiatric assistants, and Julie Willoughby, 40, a nurse, have been charged with involuntary manslaughter and patient abuse or neglect. Mr. Macklin was charged with murder and felonious assault.
The medical professionals are scheduled to have their first court appearance March 15; no court date has been scheduled for Mr. Macklin.