Local News Headlines: January 6, 2021

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Family of former assisted living patient files wrongful death suit

The family of Kenneth “Butch” Burgin, of Martinsville has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against an Owen County nursing home citing negligence in his November 11th passing. Burgin who was retired from the Morgan County Highway Department had developed Alzheimer’s and was checked into on Owen Valley Health Campus in Spencer this past September. The family says that Butch’s health started to deteriorate suddenly after family was no longer allowed to visit starting in Mid-October. According to lawsuit paperwork, under his medical care, Butch suffered from dehydration, pressure sores, and had facial contusions (including a broken nose and four missing teeth). His death certificate states that “protein calorie malnutrition” contributed to his death.

Report released regarding human trafficking in Indiana

A report from the Office of the Indiana Attorney General and Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking shows that, while human trafficking remains a pervasive problem in Indiana, the state has improved its strategies to reduce human trafficking and assist trafficking survivors. A 19 percent increase occurred in 2019, with 157 Indiana human trafficking cases were reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, 40 of which involved minors. Reports from service providers, however, indicate that the scope of human trafficking in Indiana is far greater than data from the national hotline indicates.

Indiana woman pleads guilty to climbing Mount Rushmore

20 year-old Bloomington resident, Molly Venderley, has pleaded guilty to climbing Mt. Rushmore, the Federal Landmark located in South Dakota. Although there are posted signs explaining that it is against the law to scale both the pile of broken rocks at the base of the monument and the sculpture itself, Venderley admitted to knowingly doing so. The plea deal dropped to misdemeanor charges, and Venderley was fined $1250.