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Police: Mixture Of Prescriptions Cause Death At Tomah Veterans Shelter

Tomah Police Say They Found No Criminal Wrongdoing In Death At VAF Shelter

By
Tomah Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Maureen McCollum/WPR

Tomah Police found no criminal wrongdoing in a death that is playing a role in closing a homeless shelter for veterans.

An autopsy found a combination of multiple medications caused the death of a woman staying at the Veterans Assistance Foundation shelter in September.

Police did not disclose which prescription drugs were taken, but officials said they do not believe the medications were illegally obtained. The investigation could not determine whether the death was accidental or intentional.

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The incident was one of the safety concerns identified by the Tomah Veterans Affairs Medical Center when they decided to stop leasing facility space to the foundation.

VAF Executive Director Don Roach said the foundation wasn’t surprised police found no evidence of criminal behavior.

“We already knew that,” Roach said. “So we’re saddened by it and we hope it gives the family some security to know that it wasn’t anything done intentionally.”

Roach said the VAF is working to address safety concerns identified by the VA in a recent inspection. The shelter will close in April unless a federal grant program allows them to find a new location.

Last week, a veteran jumped out of a third floor window at the shelter, prompting more concerns about security from VA officials. Roach previously said the individual was alive and responsive when transported to the hospital.