Chad Walburn, Erie, Pennsylvania man charged with the murder of his bedridden mom, Phyllis Walburn, after forcibly removing oxygen tubes keeping her alive and pouring water over her.
A Pennsylvania man faces felony charges, including first degree murder after investigators saying he admitted to removing his bedridden mother’s oxygen tube and dumping large amounts of water on her.
Chad Walburn, 40, of Erie, PA was arraigned late Friday morning on first-degree murder, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and other offenses in the Oct. 31 death of his mother, Phyllis Walburn, 63.
Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook ruled Phyllis Walburn’s death a homicide shortly after the death, but said at the time that the cause was still under investigation. Cook said Friday the cause of death was determined to be respiratory failure due to brain injury due to the intentional withdrawal of oxygen, at the hands of the victim’s own son.
Erie bedridden mom suffered years of health issues
Chad Walburn was placed in the Erie County Prison without bond following his arraignment by Erie 1st Ward District Judge Sue Mack Friday morning according to the Erie Times-News.
Walburn was initially jailed Oct. 24 on $20,000 bond when Erie police charged him with aggravated assault after accusing him of attacking his mother on Oct. 23.
Investigators said police were called to a residence in the 3800 block of Stanley Avenue on the afternoon of Oct. 23 to investigate a report of an unwanted guest. Walburn’s father reported his son, who did not live at the residence, was inside and was not welcome, according to an initial criminal complaint against the son.
When police went inside the residence, they found Phyllis Walburn on a bed, soaking wet. Her home health aide, who had left for a short time, then returned to the house and noted that Phyllis Walburn was not wearing her oxygen tube and her oxygen machine was turned off and unplugged, according to investigators.
Investigators said Walburn admitted during an interview to removing his mother’s oxygen tube, powering down the oxygen machine and unplugging it. He also admitted to pouring a large amount of water on his mother using multiple containers, including a small garbage can, and the son stating, ‘she needed to die,’ according to court documents cited by WJET.
Police found Phyllis Walburn unresponsive and noticed discoloration on her neck, according to information in the initial complaint. She was taken to UPMC Hamot, where she died on the afternoon of Oct. 31, Cook reported.
Walburn’s death follows the woman suffering ‘…many years of health issues,’ her obituary stated.
