Cargivers accused of neglect at vets home in Pueblo

Associated Press
Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado
May 9, 2008

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PUEBLO, Colorado (AP) — Two Southern Colorado residents are accused of mistreating five veterans at a nursing home, including a Medal of Honor recipient who died last year.

Darrel McTaggart of Ordway is charged with one felony count of assault against an at-risk adult. Donald Morton of Las Animas is charged with misdemeanor neglect of an at-risk adult.

The two caregivers who worked at a Veterans Affairs nursing home in Pueblo are on leave with pay, pending the outcome of the case.

The 55-year-old McTaggart is accused of causing bodily injury to a patient.

Prosecutors allege the 52-year-old Morton neglected Medal of Honor recipient Raymond Murphy and four others.

Murphy was honored for his actions during combat in Korea. Prosecutors say there is no evidence the alleged neglect was linked to Murphy’s death last year.

The other veterans weren’t identified.

Congress later named the VA Medical Center in Albuquerque, N.M., in his honor.