Hospital patient charged with murder of security officer
BRIGHTON TWP. MI May 10 2018 — A patient at Heritage Valley Beaver hospital — initially accused of assaulting several security guards — now faces a homicide charge after one of the security officers has died.
According to a police report, John E. Fletcher, 25, was a patient in the hospital’s psychiatric unit in December 2017 when he assaulted security and medical staff, all of whom were called to the ward to administer his medication.
Police said security officer, Randy W. Winterrowd, 44, collapsed during the fight with Fletcher and died about a month later after he was taken off a life-support system.
Additional charges of homicide were filed Wednesday against Fletcher after an autopsy and investigation into Winterrowd’s death were conducted, police said.
According to the report, officers were called at 5:40 p.m. Dec. 20 to the hospital’s psychiatric unit regarding a fight. Officers were told a security guard, later identified as Winterrowd, had been injured and was knocked unconscious. Prior to their arrival, CPR was being administered to Winterrowd, police said.
Officers were told four hospital security guards and several members of the medical staff were called to the fourth floor to give Fletcher his medication. Police said security was brought in because of Fletcher’s “prior behavior toward medical staff.”
Fletcher was standing in an open area with connecting hallways when he was approached by guards, including Winterrowd, and medical staff, police said. Fletcher asked the guards, “Who do I have to punch to go to jail?” Police said Fletcher was instructed to hit no one, but he moved toward the group and punched one guard in the face.
Security took Fletcher to the ground and gave him his medication, police said.
According to the report, Fletcher began to calm down, and as he was helped to his feet, he said he was not going to create any more problems. But he became combative again, kicking a guard several times, police said.
Winterrowd “was directly engaged with Fletcher” during the struggle to get him to a secured room about 50 feet down the hall, the report stated. Police said Winterrowd collapsed “from the center of the confrontation” and became unresponsive.
The staff split between starting CPR on Winterrowd and restraining Fletcher, police said. He was eventually secured in a room.
Winterrowd was taken to the hospital’s emergency department and placed on life support. He was later transported to a Pittsburgh hospital for testing. Police said after “extensive testing” for about a month, Winterrowd was taken off life support and died shortly after.
Forensic pathologist Dr. Todd Luckasevic conducted an autopsy and ruled Winterrowd’s death a homicide, police said. The report stated that a “medical event” occurred in his body during the altercation with Fletcher.
According to court documents, Fletcher was initially charged Dec. 21 by Brighton Township police with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and simple assault. At that time, he was taken to the Beaver County Jail after failing to post a $100,000 bond.
Fletcher was charged Wednesday with homicide and two counts each of aggravated assault and reckless endangerment. Records show bail has been denied.
Police said Fletcher was homeless, and no address associated with him was listed on court documents.
According to an obituary, Winterrowd was a Center Township resident and volunteer member of the township fire department. He volunteered as a food server at the Rally for Troops in Beaver and was a member of Eagle Scout Troop 454 and New Brighton Masonic Lodge 259.
Winterrowd is survived by his wife, Peggy, a daughter and granddaughter. The Winterrowds were married 22 years.
According to the obituary, “he loved to make people laugh.”
