A Pennsylvania man is behind bars after he allegedly killed his bedridden and oxygen machine-dependent mother.
According to court records, Chad Walburn, 40, was charged last week with first-degree murder in the death of his mother, Phyllis Elaine Walburn, 63, in October.
The elder Walburn died on Oct. 31 in an Erie hospital “after many years of health issues,” according to her obituary. However, police ruled her death a murder.
According to a probable cause arrest affidavit obtained by the Erie Times-News, the Erie Police Department responded to a call on Oct. 23 about a man refusing to leave his home.
When officers arrived, they discovered the unwelcome guest, Chad Walburn, inside his mother’s home. Cops reportedly discovered her unconscious and soaked in her bed.
She had discoloration on her neck, and it appeared that someone had removed her oxygen tube from her nose. Cops noticed that the machine had been turned off and unplugged.
After Miranda, Chad Walburn allegedly admitted to removing his mother’s oxygen tube, turning it off, and pulling the plug. He then poured water on her from several containers, including a small garbage can, according to the affidavit.
When asked why he did such a thing, Chad Walburn allegedly replied that his mother needed to die. Paramedics transported her to the hospital, where she died eight days later.
The Erie County Coroner ruled her death a homicide, according to the Times-News. Walburn was charged with aggravated assault in the days following the incident.
However, after further investigation, the coroner determined that the cause of death was respiratory failure caused by an intentional withdrawal of oxygen, according to the newspaper. Walburn was arraigned for murder on Friday.
He is still in Erie County Prison without a bond.
“There were a lot of moving parts to this investigation, so we just wanted to make sure that everything was consistent with the coroner’s report and our detectives’ investigation,” Erie police Deputy Chief Rick Lorah told local ABC/Fox affiliate WJET.
“At this point in time, the official coroner’s report is out listing it as a homicide and after conferring with the district attorney’s office, obviously, those charges were then filed.”
