Hospital patient allegedly beats security guard to death while fleeing from facility on Christmas
Jonathan Winch, of Wisconsin, was arrested after allegedly beating Andrea Merrell, 43, outside of a Wyoming hospital while trying to flee the emergency department on Christmas Day.
A hospital patient allegedly beat a Minnesota security guard to death while trying to to escape on Christmas Day.
Jonathan Winch, 35, of Wisconsin, was arrested after allegedly beating Andrea Merrell, 43, outside M Health Fairview Lakes Hospital in Wyoming while trying to flee the emergency department, court records obtained by KARE 11 News show.
Authorities arrived on the scene to discover Merrell injured and unresponsive in the parking lot as Winch tried to break into her security vehicle.
When police confronted him, he allegedly struggled with an officer for several minutes before declaring, 'I didn't mean to hurt her,' according to court records.
Two days after being rushed to the hospital, Merrell died from injuries sustained during the assault. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner cited traumatic head trauma as the cause of death.
Winch, who was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, was reportedly required to undergo a mental competency assessment while in custody.
He remains jailed on $2 million bail as of Wednesday evening, and court records indicate he is not yet represented by an attorney.
'She was the most kind-hearted soul,' Merrell's best friends told KARE News. 'She was supposed to be our friend for her life, and that was taken away from us.'
A hospital patient allegedly beat Minnesota security guard Andrea Merrell (pictured), 43, to death outside M Health Fairview Lakes Hospital in Wyoming on Christmas Day
The incident began early Thursday evening when police were alerted shortly before 5:30pm about Winch trying to break through the hospital's large magnetic doors, according to court documents obtained by Star Tribune
Jonathan Winch, 35, of Wisconsin, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, and was reportedly required to undergo a mental competency assessment while in custody
The incident began early Thursday evening when police were alerted shortly before 5:30pm about Winch trying to break through the hospital's large magnetic doors, according to court documents obtained by the Star Tribune.
He was trying to leave the emergency department in violation of a medical hold, though court records do not specify the reason for the hold.