A Physician's Assistant who faces five felonies in connection with the deaths of two elderly patients at the Claremore Veterans Center last year has worked at Family and Children's Services in Tulsa since shortly after leaving his previous position.
KRMG was the first to report Kenneth Adams' involvement with FCS, and to obtain a statement from that agency regarding the case.
FCS Chief Communications Officer Tina Wells gave KRMG the following statement:
We were shocked to learn yesterday evening of the indictment against Kenneth Adams and moved immediately to suspend his employment indefinitely.
Adams was hired in September 2012 to work as a physician's assistant in our outpatient mental health clinic; a pre-employment background check conducted prior to Adams' hiring revealed no concerns or pending charges.
We have received no complaints related to his care of our clients and will ensure continuity of care by rescheduling clients with other agency providers.
Adams, 60, was arrested Monday after a multicounty grand jury indictment was unsealed in Rogers County District Court.
He faces two felony counts each of second-degree murder and caretaker neglect, as well as one misdemeanor count of failing to initiate a medicolegal investigation by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Jay Minter, 86, was scalded to death at CVC in a malfunctioning whirlpool, and Louis Arterberry, 83, suffered a stroke but wasn't taken to a hospital for nearly ten hours.
Adams' wife, Cynthia, was the administrator at the Claremore facility at the time of the two deaths, but suddenly resigned in July.
She has not been charged.