Nurse Charged In Death Of H.R. McMaster's Father In Roxborough

ROXBOROUGH, PHILADELPHIA – Neglect, involuntary manslaughter, and falsifying records charges have been filed against a licensed practical nurse in the April 13 death of former National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster's father, who was living at a care facility in Roxborough, Philadelphia.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said Thursday, May 10 that Christann Shyvin Gainey, a 30-year-old licensed practical nurse from Philadelphia who was contracted by the Cathedral Village Retirement Community in Roxborough, has been charged with felony neglect, involuntary manslaughter and falsifying records charges.

If convicted of these charges, Gainey could face 30 years in prison, Shapiro said.

Gainey is accused of not conducting a neurological check on H.R. McMaster Sr., 84, after he fell and hit his head on April 12 while he was at the community. Gainey is also accused of falsely reporting she did conduct the checks, while surveillance footage from the facility showed she did not conduct the checks, which are required per the facility's policy.

A nurse at the facility later told news outlets that McMaster went unattended for hours after his fall.

Shapiro's office confirmed the report, saying the senior McMaster was left in the facility's lobby for eight hours after the fall.

The Philadelphia Medical Examiner's office ruled McMaster's death as accidental from blunt impact trauma to the head.

However, Shapiro's office said the medical examiner's office determined the injuries were consistent with an untreated head injury from the fall.

At about 7 a.m. on April 13, staff at the facility discovered that McMaster had died in the lobby of the building in a wheelchair.

The assistant director of nursing then requested the neurological assessment paperwork from Gainey, which she was responsible for performing, authorities said. However, after Gainey gave the paperwork to facility staff, they learned the most recent check was reported at 7:20 a.m., after Mr. McMaster’s time of death.

Gainey then admitted to falsifying the final check, which video footage confirmed, Shapiro said.

"She did not perform one – not one – neurological check on Mr. McMaster, and even lied on the paperwork that she did," Shapiro said. "The evidence shows that Gainey intentionally, knowingly and recklessly caused serious bodily injury to Mr. McMaster by failing to provide treatment or care. We will hold her – and anyone else who knowingly neglects a care-dependent person in Pennsylvania – accountable."

The McMaster family, despite dealing with what was likely a preventable death of a family member, said in a statement they are grateful for the AG's office and the Philadelphia Police Department's work on the case.

"Our father, Lieutenant Colonel Herbert R. McMaster (U.S. Army, retired), was a tough and compassionate soldier and public servant," said Letitia McMaster, McMaster’s sister. "He was committed to his neighbors, his fellow soldiers, his community and his country. The best way to honor his memory is for all of us to do all we can to prevent others from suffering at the hands of those who lack compassion and abandon even the most basic standards of human decency. Today's charges are an important step forward in that connection."

Gainey has not been arraigned and bail has not been set as of Thursday afternoon, according to Shapiro.

A pervious version of this story incorrectly identified Gainey as a licensed nurse practitioner, when Gainey is in fact a licensed practical nurse. Patch regrets the error.

Image via Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office