Female hospital worker beaten to death by male patient who was trying to flee medical hold, police say
Andrea Merrell was working her typical shift at M Health Fairview Lakes Hospital in Wyoming, Minnesota on Christmas Day when a large male patients violently attacked and killed her, police said.
A female hospital security guard was senselessly beaten to death in Minnesota by a male patient who was trying to escape a medical hold, police said.
Andrea Merrell, 43, died on Christmas Day after Jonathan Chet Winch, 35, allegedly violently assaulted her while she was working a shift at M Health Fairview Lakes Hospital in Wyoming, a city about 45 minutes outside of Minneapolis, according to a criminal complaint.
Winch, a six-foot-two-inch-tall man weighing 363lbs, viciously attacked Merrell around 5.30pm after he pushed through large magnetic doors and fled the emergency room, 'contrary to medical hold,' the complaint reviewed by the Daily Mail stated.
When an officer with the Wyoming Police Department arrived, they spotted a hospital security vehicle with its lights on and a guard 'lying unconscious on the ground,' per the complaint.
A shirtless Winch, who donned only dark sweatpants, then attempted to gain access to the security car before a police officer blocked him from doing so with his squad car, the probable cause statement detailed.
The suspect then jumped on the windshield of the officer's vehicle before the cop managed to get him off and deployed his taser, telling Winch to get on the ground.
Winch refused the officer's demands and went on to 'advance' them while stating 'I didn't mean to hurt her,' the complaint read. After allegedly fighting back for about five minutes, he was arrested.
A motive for the attack and why Winch was on a medical hold remains unclear.
Andrea Merrell, a 43-year-old security hospital guard tragically died after being physically assaulted by a male patient who broke out of the emergency room on Christmas Day, police said
The suspect, Jonathan Chet Winch, 35, allegedly struck Merrell and knocked her unconscious before police arrived on scene of the attack at M Health Fairview Lakes Hospital in Wyoming, Minnesota
Additional officers and first responders rendered aid to Merrell, who had a very weak pulse, severe head trauma, and agonal breathing. She sadly died two days later from her injuries.
According to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner, Merrell's cause of death was from head injuries due to physical assault, KARE 11 reported.