3 Arrested: Neglect Of A Dependent Causing Death 

 3 Arrested: Neglect Of A Dependent Causing Death

by Sgt. Anna Gray

Evansville Police Department-Public Information

SUMMARY 

On January 5th, 2020, Evansville Police Officers and other first responders were dispatched to 5366 Stone Hedge Dr. in reference to a female who was not breathing. This apartment was a managed home for persons with special needs. The caller/reporter was Latavia Booker, a healthcare worker with Compass Residential. The victim was identified as 28-year-old Robin Phillips. Latavia Booker was one of Phillips’ caregivers. 

Booker reported that she arrived on shift around 6:50 a.m. that day on January 5th. Booker said that Phillips had woken up and taken her medication that morning. Booker said that Phillips laid on the floor, which was a common thing for Phillips to do. Booker helped Phillips back to her room but when Booker returned to check on Phillips a little later, she found Phillips unresponsive and called 911. 

It was determined that there was an apparent delay in contacting authorities relating to the condition of Phillips. It appeared that Phillips had died hours prior to the 911 call. Because of the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death, an EPD Adult Investigations Detective was assigned to this investigation. 

The Vanderburgh County Coroner’s Office scheduled an autopsy. The Vanderburgh County Coroner’s Office ruled the death of Phillips as the result of Chronic and Acute Effects of Chlorpromazine Intoxication, Caretaker Malfeasance, Special Needs Patient with Chronic Constipation several days prior. Chlorpromazine is used for symptomatic management of psychotic disorders and was prescribed to Phillips. Phillips had been given too much of her medication and had overdosed on it.

EPD Detectives worked alongside the Vanderburgh County Coroner’s Office, the Indiana Attorney General’s Office, and the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office including Adult Protective Services. Through the investigation, it was determined that Phillips should have been given medical attention which could have prevented her death. 

Latavia Booker, Glenda Fields, and Victoria Brown were all employees with Compass Residential. Brown was Fields and Booker’s supervisor (Program Director). During a care team meeting the day before Phillips’ death, Brown had advised Fields and Booker to take Phillips to the emergency room due to the fact that she had not had a bowel movement in three days and it was protocol to do so. Fields and Booker never did seek medical attention for Phillips. Brown neglected to follow up to ensure that Phillips had been taken care of. During the interviews with detectives, all three admitted that they were neglectful in providing Phillips with the proper medical care. All three women were fired from Compass Residential. 

This was a lengthy investigation that required many medical documents from pharmacies, hospitals, and records from several medical facilities outside of Evansville. Robin Phillips was a Medicaid consumer. The State of Indiana Office of Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigates crimes involving Medicaid providers and consumers, which is why they are involved in this investigation as well. This investigation is still active and detectives are not ruling out other arrests at a later time. This investigation included a lot of teamwork between several agencies to bring justice to this tragic incident.