Jury Finds Former Nursing Home Employees Not Guilty On All Counts

Edmonson Voice Staff Report:
A Butler County jury has found three defendants, all former employees of Genesis Healthcare in Brownsville not guilty of multiple counts of Knowingly abuse/neglect of adult by person.

Jerry Matthew Snyder, (34), of Leitchfield, faced 11 counts of the charge; Kayla D. Kinser, (26), also of Leitchfield faced 8 counts of the same, and Kelly D. Duvall, (54), of Sweeden, faced 4 counts, also of the same charge.

The three former employees were accused of abusing two residents, Mary Lush and Mrs. Jessie Prunty, after an anonymous employee reported the alleged abuse. The two patients each suffered from dementia and have passed away since the initial report of abuse. 

As a result of the initial investigation, the three former employees were accused of slapping, pinching, and pouring water on the patients, along with other forms of abuse. 

The three accused were arrested in September of 2014 by the Kentucky State Police, who were assisted in the investigation by the office of the Attorney General, the Office of the Inspector General, and Wil Cannon, who was Edmonson County Sheriff at that time.

Witnesses of the alleged incidents said the abuse was not reported at the time and attorneys for the co-defendants argued that there were no injuries to the alleged victims.

The trial was moved from Edmonson County to Butler by special Judge Phil Patton, which began on Monday. The jury's decision came today after closing arguments. All three individuals were found not guilty on all counts.