11/8/18 – 5:08 A.M.

The trial of 32-year-old Megan Schnipke of Columbus Grove wrapped up with two guilty verdicts Wednesday. The jury found Schnipke guilty on charges of forgery and gross patient neglect stemming from the January death of 76-year-old Phyllis Campbell at the Hilty Home in Pandora. The jury returned a not guilty verdict on a patient neglect charge.

Campbell walked out of the nursing home on January 7th and died of hypothermia. Prosecutors said Schnipke was giving another patient a breathing treatment when Campbell wandered outside. However, they said Schnipke should have closed doors to the memory wing of the facility that employees often propped open. They also argued Schnipke should have found someone to watch her post. The forgery charge stemmed from a false note Schnipke wrote around 6 a.m. January 7th saying Campbell was in bed with her call light nearby, when in fact Campbell had left the building hours earlier.

The judge has not set a sentencing date yet. The maximum sentence on the forgery charge is one year in prison. For gross patient neglect, Schnipke could serve up to six months in jail.

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