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Show A12 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1999 IAROUMD1DAVIS CLIPPER TODAY Former Davis Hospital doctor faces murder charges in five deaths BY MELINDA WILLIAMS Clipper Today Staff Writer - FARMINGTON A doctor who practiced at Davis Hospital and Medical Center for 16 days in 1995 and 19 is facing charges he hilled five elderly patients by over medicating them. Murder charges were filed against Robert Weitzel, a psychiatrist, who was arrested in Bay City; Texas, where he is currently working. As of Fnday, State won't appeal court decision to return to then residences. However, prosecutors believe Weitzel gave his patients excessive amounts of morphine, a drug usually used to alleviate pain, not to treat dementia. Weitzel's Attorney, Peter Stirba, said his chent will be vindicated once the facts of the case are known. He believes its unfortunate the case has become a criminal matter when the doctor's medical judgment should be decided by a panel of physicians. no court date had been set. Davis County prosecutors investigated Weitzel after six people died while patients in the geriatric psychiatric ward at the hospital. Charges were brought against Weitzel on only five of the patients. Patients m the ward are mainly treated for dementia, especially Alzheimers disease. Investigators say the patients were not expected to die, and were there only for treatment, following which they were expected to Rl examiners office performed autopsies. The results of the toxicology tests were turned over to Davis County Weitzel's alleged victims include: Ellen B. Anderson, 91, Bngham City, who died Dec 30, 1995, Judith V Larsen, 93, Salt Lake City, who died Jan. 3, Mary R. Crane, 72, Salt Lake City, who died Jan. 3, 1996; Lydia M. Smith, 90, Centerville, who died Jan. 8, 1996 and Ennis Alldredge, 83, Oak City, Millard County, who died Jan. 14, 1996. Last June, investigators exhumed prosecutors. It was our determination that five of the six deaths were the direct result of the administration of the drug morphine, which was administered or caused to be administered by Dr. Weitzel. At this time, there are no plans to exhume the bodies of the other three who died during that time period. 19; the bodies of Larsen, Crane and Alldredge, and the state medical Weitzel has fought for three years to keep his medical and prescription pnvileges. Last month, the Utah Division Of Professional and Occupational Licensing suspended his medical license after he refused to register for a psychiatric examination at a clinic in Kansas. In 1997, Weitzel surrendered his California medical license after he was accused of sexual misconduct with a patient. OUDdIMib HOME' FURNISHINGS OCT. PRICES GOOD THRU MONDAY 4, 1999 ASH SOLIDS throw out & VENEERS IN confession A NATURAL FARMINGTON. (AP) FINISH - A jury will never see a videotape with Todd Jeremy Rettenberger telling police officers he shot and killed a motel clerk The Utah Attorney Generals Office has decided not to appeal a Utah Supreme Court ruling throwing out the tainted confession, said Fred Voros, who heads the attorney general's criminal appeal department. His office could have appealed the state court's decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. g Rettenberger is accused of Matthew Whicker on Oct. 29, 1996, at the Woods Cross Motel 6 where Whicker worked. Police believ e the motiv e for the murder was robbery since $491 was missing from the cash drawer A month after the shooting, Rettenberger and Scott Johnson, both mur-denn- at the time, were arrested. y Following a interrogation, confessed to the shootRettenberger ing, but later pleaded innocent to the charges and sought to have the confession thrown out On Aug. 27, the state Supreme Court ruled the confession inadmissible, say mg it had been coerced by 18 two-da- police Voros dechned to comment on specific reasons why the Attorney General's Office did not appeal the ruling However. Davis County Deputy Attorney Bill McGuire said timing was the main factor in the decision. It takes forever to go that route, he said We want to move forward and get this case behind us Rettenberger has been held m the Davis County Jail since Nov. 20, 1996, with little evidence other than the videotaped interview His trial could be delayed agam because public defender Glenn Celia said he has not been given new evi- 3 PIECE WALL ENTERTAINMENT ARMOIRE 35"w x Fits most VCR WITH WOOD TOP 22"wx 26"d x 23"h j1 Drawers 2499.99 36" doors Dual pocket END TABLE 1 REG. x 41"h televisions DRAWER dence prosecutors recently uncovered Rettenberger s tnal is scheduled to begin Nov 29, but Celia said he will probably ask for a new date. Neither McGuire nor Celia would discuss the new evidence Johnson has been in pnson since Dec. 19, 1997. after pleading guilty to three felony charges of attempted sex abuse of a child for a relationship with a 2rd Adjustable shelves Q DUST SKU3865649 J777 sku348701 6 storage 539 PER MANY GREAT VOUTH BEDROOM BUVS METAL FUTON BUNK girl. BED The state Board of Pardons recently ordered Johnson to be paroled on Jan. 4, 2000. However, McGuire said Johnson could agam face charges in the Motel 6 murder. Perfect for limit- ed space. Extra sitting room by day, a cpmfort-bl- e bed by night. ku2817284 BIDDING NOT INCLUDED Developmental screening set for October 2 If you have concerns about your child's development, the Davis County Early Childhood Special Education Programs provide support services for children birth through five who are identified with developmental delays in one or more of the following areas: cognitive development, communication development, motor development, social or emotional development, adaptive skills) and development (self-hel- p hearing and vision concerns. 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