WI Nurse Amputated Patient's Foot To Display In Taxidermy Shop: Report

PIERCE COUNTY, WI — A Wisconsin nurse is facing charges after authorities said she amputated the foot of a dying man without permission and told coworkers she planned to display it in her family's taxidermy shop, according to court records and reports.

Mary K. Brown, 38, of Durand, was charged in Pierce County court with felony mayhem and physical abuse of an elderly person while intentionally causing great bodily harm. Both charges carry greater penalties due to the age of the victim.

According to an arrest affidavit obtained by WEAU-TV in Eau Claire, investigators were notified of the death of a 62-year-old man at Spring Valley Health and Rehab Center in Spring Valley in June. According to WEAU, his body was sent for an autopsy after a medical examiner noticed the man's foot was not attached to his body but was lying near it at the funeral home.

According to WEAU, the man was admitted to the nursing home in March after losing heat in his home and falling after getting severe frostbite on both feet.

The medical examiner later learned the man's foot was amputated by Brown on May 27. Brown said it was an "act of compassion" because the man's foot was no longer attached to his leg, smelled, and was "black like a mummy," according to court documents obtained by NBC News.

The center's director of nursing reportedly also told investigators the man's foot "was dead, foul smelling, and was held on by a tendon." She "was able to take his foot and put it back in," the complaint said.

Two other unidentified nurses were in the room when Brown allegedly amputated the man's foot by using scissors to snip the tendon, NBC News reported.

According to The Washington Post, Brown told co-workers she planned to take the patient's foot and display it at her family's taxidermy shop in Spring Valley.

Her co-workers also said Brown wanted to put a sign next to the foot that said, "wear your boots, kids."

In a statement provided to WQOW-TV in Eau Claire, administrator and CEO of Spring Valley Senior Living and Health Care Kevin Larson said Brown is no longer employed with the company.

“We have and will continue to fully cooperate with the investigation into this matter," Larson said.