By: Jerry Howard
Schofield, 36, was taken into custody Thursday afternoon near Shady Cove. The investigation, which spanned seven months, was prompted by concerns from Asante officials about a surge in central line infection cases among ICU patients. An internal review, including input from medical experts, revealed that the infections were linked to patients treated in the ICU during a specific timeframe.
Investigators found that Schofield had access to these patients and suspected that she had been diverting liquid fentanyl for personal use, replacing it with tap water, which may have caused serious infections. She left her position at Asante in July 2023.
The investigation involved a thorough examination of hospital records and interviews with nearly 100 individuals, including medical staff and affected patients. Given the case’s complexity and the impact on victims, multiple detectives were assigned to the investigation, which was later submitted to the Jackson County District Attorney’s office.
On June 12, 2024, a Grand Jury indicted Schofield on 44 counts of Assault in the Second Degree, under Measure 11. These charges stem from evidence indicating that her actions resulted in injuries to multiple patients. The indictments reflect the total number of affected patients, with the investigation pinpointing infection occurrences between July 2022 and July 2023, all limited to the ICU.
The MPD acknowledged the significant public interest in the case and stated that, after consulting medical experts, it was determined that any questionable deaths associated with the case could not be directly linked to the infections. The department expressed its condolences to the victims and their families affected by this situation.