Woman's death at Denton State School ruled a homicide

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I am forwarding as is, this says it all with the newest story out in Denton.

Story is below for the Call of Action!

Fwding. as is -

Thanks ,

I am forwarding this on to our families here in SA..

San , please make these calls. Voting is tomorrow, we need all the

support we can get to get this passed. It will make a differnce in so many

lives and families. Please make your calls.

God Bless You, remember we can only make a differnce by numbers.

Debby

From: Community_Now [mailto:Community_Now ] On

Behalf Of Litzinger

Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 9:53 AM

To: Community_Now

Subject: Re: [Community_Now] Re: Woman's death at Denton State School ruled a

homicide

- Hide quoted text -



Debby, They should call it what it is.. The Corpus Christi Hell Hole, the

Denton Hell Hole... might make parents think twice before placing a child there.

To keep families from considering these hell holes, please make your calls today

about Medicaid Buy-in so they can receive health care (surgery, therapy, DME)

and not have to give their child up to give him/her a 'better' life.

Rep. Zerwas 512/463-0657

Rep. Isett 512/463-0676

Rep. Eiland 512/463-0502

Rep. Cohen 512/463-0389

Rep. Dukes 512/463-0506

Ask them to: Include the HHSC Exceptional Item for funding the Medicaid Buy-In

for children in Article XI for further consideration. Children and families need

this to avoid institutionalization.

These calls are urgent today as the vote is Wednesday morning,

Thanks,

This mornings story in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram is below....

No report on 'tragic accident' at Denton State School was filed, police say

By DOMINGO RAMIREZ JR.ramirez@...

DENTON †" Denton State School officials notified police about a " tragic

accident "

March 5 that ended with the death of one of their residents, but they never

filed a report, Denton police said Monday.

School officials called a Denton detective shortly after the incident, Denton

police said.

State officials have found no wrongdoing in the death of Janice , 53,

who died at a Fort Worth hospital Friday.

But the Tarrant County medical examiner's office has ruled 's death a

homicide, noting that she died from a closed head injury during an assault.

" Because we never got a report, there's been no investigation, " Denton police

spokesman Grelle said Monday.

The state is considering systemwide reforms of its facilities for the mentally

disabled after a Justice Department investigation last year found hundreds of

cases of abuse and neglect.

The investigation found that residents at many of the 13 state facilities are

vulnerable to injury or abuse from other residents. But the schools failed to

adequately investigate abuse and neglect, making it difficult to identify and

eliminate risks, the Justice Department found.

Officials with the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services, the Texas

Department of Family and Protective Services and a Denton State School's

critical incident team investigated shortly after the incident and concluded

that it was an accident.

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services investigated possible

neglect, but that allegation was unconfirmed.

State officials also contacted Denton police.

On Monday afternoon, Cecilia Fedorov of Aging and Disability Services gave this

account of the incident:

A male resident who was running through one of the school's building was asked

to stop, Fedorov said. The man has an IQ of 20 or less, she said.

He stopped and threw up his hands, she said.

At about that time, came around a corner and bumped into him, causing

her to fall backwards and hit her head on the floor, Fedorov said.

Staff members were with the man and when the accident happened, Fedorov

said.

" It was just a tragic, tragic accident, " she said.

was taken to Texas Health Fort Worth hospital and died shortly before 5

p.m. Friday, according to the medical examiner's office.

The Denton facility is the largest of 13 state schools, housing about 600

residents.

The Justice Department originally investigated allegations of abuse and neglect

at the Denton and Lubbock facilities, then broadened its inquiry to the other

facilities.

Online: Justice Department's findings about conditions at the state schools,

www.tinyurl.com/d2fdgf

DOMINGO RAMIREZ JR.,