Honk News (Erie County, PA) – A man from Pennsylvania is in custody following allegations that he took the life of his mother, who was bedridden and reliant on an oxygen machine.
Prosecutors have officially charged 40-year-old Chad Walburn with first-degree murder in connection with the death of his 63-year-old mother, Phyllis Elaine Walburn, which occurred in October. The elder Walburn passed away at an Erie hospital on Oct. 31, following a prolonged struggle with health problems, according to her obituary. Authorities have classified her death as a homicide.
The Erie Police Department responded to a call on October 23 regarding a man who was reportedly refusing to leave a residence, as detailed in a probable cause arrest affidavit acquired by the Erie Times-News. Upon arrival, officers discovered the unexpected visitor, Chad Walburn, within his mother’s residence. Authorities allegedly discovered her unresponsive and drenched in her bed. There was noticeable discoloration on her neck, and it seemed that her oxygen tube had been removed from her nose. The officers observed that the machine had been powered down and disconnected from the outlet.
Following the Miranda warning, Chad Walburn reportedly confessed to removing his mother’s oxygen tube, disabling it, and disconnecting it. According to the affidavit, he subsequently doused her with a significant quantity of water from multiple containers, which included a small garbage can. When questioned about his actions, Chad Walburn reportedly stated that his mother had to die. Emergency responders transported her to the medical facility, but she succumbed to her injuries eight days later.
The Times-News reported that the Erie County Coroner has ruled her death a homicide. Walburn faced charges of aggravated assault shortly following the incident. Following a more in-depth inquiry, the coroner concluded that the cause of death was respiratory failure resulting from the deliberate cessation of oxygen, as reported by the publication. Walburn faced the murder charge in court on Friday.
He is currently held at the Erie County Prison with no option for bond.