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FILED
JUL 1 3 2020
~ DISTRICT

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF WEST VIRGINIA

MART,NS8~~gQ~1~IND

UNITEI~ STATES OF AMFJ~1CA,

~ ~rTh

Criminal No~
Violations:
RETA MAYS,

~‘~‘

18 U.S.C.
18 U.S.C.
18 U.S.C.

—
‘~—~ —

§ 7(3)
§ 113(a)(1)
§ 1111(a)

Defendant.

INFORMATION
The United States Attorney charges that:
Background
1.

At all relevant times, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs operated a

hospital in Clarksburg, Harrison County, West Virginia, named Louis A. Johnson Veterans Affairs
Medical Center (“VAMC Clarksburg”), to provide healthcare services to eligible veterans of the
United States military.
2.

At all relevant times, VAMC Clarksburg was a federal healthcare facility situated

on land acquired for the use of the United States and under its jurisdiction.
3.

In or about June 2015, the defendant, RETA MAYS, began her cmployine,nt as a

nursing assistant at VAMC Clarksburg.
4.

At all relevant times, VAMC Clarksburg did not require a nursing assistant to have

a certification or Jicensure for initial appointment or as a condition of continuing employment.

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5.

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At all relevant times, a nursing assistant at VAMC Clarksburg was responsible for

measuring patients’ vital signs, documenting patients’ intake and output, testing patients’ blood
glucose levels with a glucometer, and sitting one on one with patients who required close
observati on.
6.

At all relevant times, a nursing assistant at VAMC Clarksburg was not qualified or

authorized tc administer medication, including insulin.
7.

At all relevant times, the defendant was assigned to work the night shift, 7:30 p.m.

to 8:00 a.m., in VAMC Clarksburg’s medical surgical unit, referred to as Ward 3A.
8.

At all relevant times, Ward 3A housed patients who were not in a condition to be

discharged but who did not require care in the intensive care unit.
9.

At all relevant times, a number of Ward 3Apatients suffered from diabetes mellitus

(“diabetes”), a disease characterized by elevated blood glucose.
10.

Type 2 diabetes, the most common subtype of diabetes, is characterized by a

combination of resistance to insulin at the cellular level and inadequate pancreatic production of
insulin, resul*ing in a higher than normal blood glucose. Treatments include diet and exercise, oral
medications, and injectable hormones such as insulin.
11.

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas to keep blood glucose normal after

food digestion. Insulin produced naturally by the pancreas is called endogenous insulin. Insulin
produced in a laboratory for therapeutic use is called exogenous insulin. Exogenous insulin i~
most commonly administered by injection under the skin.
12.

Hypoglycemia is a condition characterized by a lower than normal blood sugar.

13.

Glucagon is a hormone available for therapeutic use by injection for a patient

suffering from hypoglycemia that cannot be treated with ingestion of carbohydrates.

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14.

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Dextrose is a manufactured simple sugar chemically identical to blood glucose,

which is commonly used in intravenous hydration solutions. A concentrated solution containing
25 grams of’ dextrose in 50 milliliters of water, called D50, is administered intravenously to treat
hypoglycemia when the patient cannot not take oral treatment or oral treatment is insufficient.
15.

Hypoglycemia is considered refractory when it does not respond rapidly to the

administration of oral or intravenous glucose or glucagon.
16.

Hypoglycemia is a known effect of administering exogenous insulin to a non-

diabetic patient or administering more than the prescribed dosage of insulin to an insulindependent diabetic patient.
17

aisks of severe hypoglycemia include seizures, coma, and death.

18.

In or about .Iune 2018, a medical doctor employed by VAMC Clarksburg as a

hospitalist reported to the hospitalist’s supervisor a concern about the deaths of patients who had
suffered unexplained hypoglycemic episodes on Ward 3A, including the deaths of multiple nondiabetic patients. This concern led to an internal investigation that culminated in a referral for
criminal investigation.
19.

In or about July 201 8, VAMC Clarksburg removed the defendant from a position

of patient care.
COUNT ONE
(Second Degree Murder)
1.

Paragraphs I through 19 ofthis Information are incorporated by reference as though

fully set forth herein.
2

On or about July 20, 2017, in Harrison County, West Virginia, within the Northern

District of West Virginia, the defendant, RETA MAYS, at VAMC Clarksburg, within the Special

3

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Maritime and Territorial Jurisdiction of the United States, on land acquired for the use of the
United States and under its jurisdiction, willfully, deliberately, maliciously, and with malice
aforethought, did unlawfully kill Robert Edge, Sr., by administering, and causing the
administration of, exogenous insulin to Robert Edgc, Sr., a VAMC Clarksburg patient who was a
Type 2 diabetic but who did not receive any prescribed insulin during his admission, in violation
of Title 18, United States Code, Section 7(3) and Section 1111(a).

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COUNT TWO
(Second Degree Murder)
1.

Paragraphs 1 through 19 ofthis Infoimation are incorporated by reference as though

fully set forth herein.
2.

On or about January 29, 2018, in Harrison County, West Virginia, within the

Northern D~trict of West Virginia, the defendant, RETA MAYS, at VAMC Clarksburg, within
the Special Maritime and Territorial Jurisdiction of the United States, on [and acquired for the use
of’ the United States and under its jurisdiction, willfully, deliberately, maliciously, and with malice
aforethought, did unlawfully kill Robert Kozul, by administering, and causing the administration
of, exogenous insulin to Robert Kozul, a VAMC Clarksburg patient who was not diabetic and not
prescribed insulin, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 7(3) and Section 111 1(a,).

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COUNT THREE
(Second Degree Murder)
1.

Paragraphs 1 through 19 ofthis Information are incorporated by reference as though

fully set forth herein.
2

On or about March 24, 2018, in Harrison County, West Virginia, within the

Northern District of West Virginia, the defendant, RETA MAYS, at VAMC Clarksburg. within
the Special Maritime and Territorial Jurisdiction of the United States, on land acquired for the use
of the United States and under its jurisdiction, willfully, deliberately, maliciously, and with malice
aforethought, did unlawfully kill Archie Edgel], by administering, and causing the administration
of, exogencus insulin to Archie Edgell, a VAMC Clarksburg patient who was a Type 2 diabetic
but who did not receive any prescribed insulin during his admission, in violation of Title 18, United
States Code, Section 7(3) and Section 1111(a).

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cOUNT FOUR
(Second Degree Murder)
1.

Paragraphs I through 1 of this Information are incorporated by reference as though

fully set fbrtii herein.
2.

On or about March 26, 2018, in Harrison County. West Virginia, within the

Northern Di~trict of West Virginia, the defendant, RETA MAYS, at VAMC Clarksburg, within
the Special Maritime and Territorial Jurisdiction of the United States, on land acquired for the use
of the United States and under its jurisdiction, willfully, deliberately, maliciously, and with malice
aforethought, did unlawfully kill George Shaw, by administering, and causing the administration
of, exogeno~s insulin to George Shaw, a VAMC Clarksburg patient who was not diabetic and not
prescribed insulin, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 7(3) and Section 1111(a).

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COUNT FIVE
(Second flegree Murder)
1.

Paragraphs 1 through 19 of this Information are incorporated by reference as though

fully set forth herein.
2.

On or about April 4, 2018, in Harrison County, West Virginia, within the Northern

District of West Virginia, the defendant, RETA MAYS, at VAMC Clarksburg, within the Special
Maritime and Territorial Jurisdiction of the United States, on land acquired for the use of the
United States and under its jurisdiction, willfully, deliberately, maliciously, and with malice
aforethought, did unlawfully kill W~A.H., by administering, and causing the administration of,
exogenous insulin to WA~H, a VAMC Clarksburg patient who was a Type 2 diabetic prescribed
a’ certain type and dosage of insulin, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 7(3) and
Section 111 (a).

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COUNT SIX
(Second Degree Murder)
1.

Paragraphs I through 19 ofthis Information are incorporated by reference as though

fully set forth herein.
2.

On or about April 9, 2018, in Harrison County, West Virginia, within the Northern

District c~f West Virginia, the defendant, RETA MAYS, at VAMC Clarksburg, within the Special
Maritime and Territorial Jurisdiction of the United States, on land acquired for the use of the
United States and under its jurisdiction, willfully, deliberately, maliciously, and with malice
aforethought, did unlawfully kill Felix McDermott, by administering, and causing the
administraticn of, exogenous insulin to Felix McDermott, a VAMC Clarksburg patient who was
not diabetic and not prescribed insulin, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 7(3)
and Section 111(a).

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COUNT SEVEN
(Second Degree Murder)
I.

Paragraphs 1 through 19 of this Information are incorporated by reference as though

fully set forth herein
2.

On or about June 4, 2018, in Harrison County, West Virginia, within the Northern

District of West Virginia, the defendant, RETA MAYS, at VAMC Clarksburg, within the Special
Maritime and Territorial Jurisdiction of the United States, on land acquired for the use of the
United States and under its jurisdiction, willfully, deliberately, maliciously, and with malice
aforethought, did unlawfully kill Raymond Golden, by administering, and causing the
administrativn ot~ exogenous insulin to Raymond Golden, a VAMC C1ai~ksb~irg patient who was
a Type 2 di~betic and who required only a single administration of a certain type and dosage of
insulin during his admission, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 7(3) and Section
1111(a).

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~3IJNT EIGHT
(Assault with Intent to Commit Murder)
1.

Paragraphs I through 19 of this Information are incorporated by rc~brence as though

fully set forth herein.
2.

On or about June 18, 2018, in Harrison County. West Virginia, within the Northern

District of West Virginia7 the defendant, RETA MAYS, at VAMC Clarksburg, within the Special
Maritime and Territorial Jurisdiction of the United States, on land acquired for the use of the
United States and under its jurisdiction, did assault KR.?. with intent to commit murder, by
administering, and causing the administration of, exogenous insulin to R.R.P., a VAMC
Clarksburg patient who was not diabetic and not prescribed insulin, in violation of Title 18, lJnited
States Code, Section 7(3) and Section 11 3(a)(1).

WILLIAM
0
LL
United States Attorney
Jarod J. Douglas
Assistant United States Attorney
Brandon S. Flower
Assistant tjnited States Attorney

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AU 455 (Rev. Oh/C)9) Wa~verofaii [idic~rnerit

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

for the
Northern District of West Virginia
United States of America

)

/

CascNo.
Reta Mays

)

WAIVER OF AN INDICTMENT
I understand ~;hat I have been accused of one or more offenses punishable by imprisonment for more than one

year. I was advised in open court of my rights and the nature of the proposed charges against mc.
After receivimg this advice, I waive my right to prosecution by indictment and consent to prosecution by
information.

Date: ___________________
Defendant ~ xipy~ature

Signature ofdefendont ~ atiorney

Printed name

of defendant ~ attorney

Judge

~s signature

Judge s printed name and title