TOMAH, Wis. (WKBT) — A former registered nurse at the Tomah Veterans Affairs Memorial Center has been taken into custody on a felony charge after prosecutors say she intentionally removed oxygen from a dying hospice patient, causing him great bodily harm.
Beth Marie Holtz, 53, of New Berlin, was charged on September 10 in Monroe County court with intentionally abusing a patient causing great bodily harm. An arrest warrant was issued the same day, and Holtz was taken into custody on Tuesday.
If convicted, Holtz faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, a $50,000 fine, or both.
The Incident
According to the criminal complaint, the incident occurred Aug. 17, 2025, involving a 75-year-old patient who had been admitted to hospice with pulmonary fibrosis and had a medical order for continuous oxygen supply…