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Inset: James Duplechain (Peevey Funeral & Cremation). Background: The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (KTRK).
A nurse for a VA hospital in Houston, Texas, allegedly said she had checked in on an elderly veteran several times on the night he died.
Not true, say federal prosecutors.
At the time of James Duplechain’s death, Christiana Ogbonnaya, employed as a nurse, faces charges for allegedly creating or utilizing false documents. Prosecutors allege an eight-hour gap occurred between her last check on him and discovering him unresponsive.
Her lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Law&Crime. Additionally, when reached for comment, the defendant herself reportedly disconnected the call, as noted by Houston ABC affiliate KTRK.
“This person is no longer employed by the VA,” the Houston VA conveyed in a statement to the outlet. “The allegations are horrifying, and the Houston VA is fully cooperating with law enforcement as the investigation progresses.”
Duplechain’s wife told the outlet that she believed he might still be alive if Ogbonnaya had checked in on him that night.
According to a timeline laid out in federal documents, which have been viewed by Law&Crime, the defendant worked an overnight shift starting at 7:30 p.m. on July 26, 2024, and ending at 8 a.m. the following morning. She was allegedly in charge of three patients, including Duplechain.
It was at approximately 4:39 a.m. that Duplechain was found unresponsive, hanging from a phone charging cable wrapped around him his neck. He was pronounced dead at 5:05 a.m.
Prosecutors say that Ogbonnaya had last checked on Duplechain, 74, at 8:45 p.m. — but she allegedly told investigators that she had checked in on him at 11:10 p.m., 1:15 a.m., and 2:55 a.m.
The nurse allegedly broke the law by lying in VA record. She was indicted May 7 and the court unsealed the case on Monday.
Records show that the Harris County medical examiner ruled his death a suicide.
Duplechain’s obituary described him as a U.S. Army veteran, drafted to serve in the Vietnam War. After leaving, he worked in refineries and construction before working 28 years at Bayer Chemical as an operator.
“If you drove down the street, you would find him working in his yard,” the obituary stated. “So strong, a great man. James had a love for dogs like no other. James set an exemplary example as a husband, father and grandfather. He was spiritually strong and compassionate and had a clever sense of humor. Above all, he loved and cherished his family and friends.”
