Makayla, who had cerebral palsy, was covered in bedsores, living in filth and starved to the point that she looked more like a skeleton than a teenager when she died March 1, 2011, just minutes after medics got her to Children’s Medical Center of Dayton.
The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office concluded Makayla died from nutritional and medical neglect complicated by her chronic condition, ruling the death a homicide. A coroner’s official called her “the worst malnourished child I think we’ve ever seen.”
Norman was charged with involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony; endangering children, a third-degree felony; and endangering children, a first-degree misdemeanor. The misdemeanor is in connection with Makayla’s sister, who was 17 when she was removed from the home after Makayla’s death. Norman pleaded guilty to all three counts.
Huffman noted that the defense had made a plea offer that included a sentencing range earlier this week, but prosecutors rejected that offer, and indicated that the state would not make any offers in this case.
Norman and her attorney remained seated during the plea hearing. She spoke softly when answering the judge’s questions.
Norman was to go on trial April 16, along with three nurses who authorities said were to provide care for Makayla or monitor her care.
Mollie E. Parsons, 41, of Dayton, a licensed practical nurse who was to care for Makayla eight hours a day, six days a week, is charged with involuntary manslaughter; failing to provide for a functionally impaired person, a fourth-degree felony, and a misdemeanor count of tampering with records.
Kathryn Williams, 42, of Englewood, and Mary K. Kilby, 63, of Miamisburg, are both charged with failing to provide for a functionally impaired person and a misdemeanor count of failing to report child abuse or neglect. Williams, a registered nurse, supervised Parsons and was to visit the family home, at 707 Taylor St., on a monthly basis. Kilby, also a registered nurse, supervised the management of Makayla’s case and was to visit the home every six months.
The case led to other investigations and litigation. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said his office’s Medicaid Fraud Unit was investigating at the request of the Dayton police, joining the FBI, the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Ohio Board of Nursing.
Last month, Makayla’s father, Claude, filed a lawsuit against Norman, the three nurses, and two companies — Exclusive Home Health Care of Dayton, and Cincinnati-based Care-Star of Ohio. Parsons and Williams were employees of Exclusive Home Care Services, which had a contract for home care through the state Job & Family Services Department. Kilby worked for CareStar, which also has a contract with Job & Family Services to manage Medicaid cases.
The day after the Dayton Daily News published an extensive investigation into Makayla’s death, the state Department of Jobs & Family Services canceled all of Exclusive’s agreements to provide Medicaid-funded care to patients. Exclusive has appealed that action and has a hearing in May.
The department also chose to rescind a previous decision to extend Care-Star’s contract.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2057 or lgrieco@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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