Bemidji, MN (KROC-AM News) – A former nurse, previously employed by a Minnesota jail, is now facing manslaughter and other felony charges in connection with the death of a person being detained in the facility.
The criminal complaint brought against Michelle Skroch was filed last week in Beltrami County Court by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. It identifies her as the former Director of Nursing for MEnd Correctional Care, which was under contract to provide health care and services at the northern Minnesota jail.
A news release issued by Ellison’s office alleges that, in early September 2018, Skrock failed to properly care for Hardel Sherrell, who was pronounced dead at the Beltrami County Jail in the late afternoon of September 2, 2018. According to the criminal complaint, the Ramsey County Medical Examiner ruled his death was due to pneumonia and cerebral edema, while an outside forensic pathologist who reviewed the autopsy concluded that the cause of death was “complications of progressive neurological disorder consistent with Guillain-Barre’ Syndrome.”
The court document also says the outside expert found that Skroch’s actions concerning Sherell’s care in the days leading up to his death fell below “the most basic nursing care.” The criminal complaint notes that the emergency room discharge instructions from an ER visit a few days before the man’s death required that he be brought back to the emergency room if any of nine listed symptoms were present and that Sherrell exhibited at least six of those symptoms.
Skroch is charged with second-degree manslaughter and two counts of felony neglect. The news release from the Attorney General’s office indicates Skroch’s nursing license was revoked two years ago…