The Pennsylvania attorney general’s office is set to conduct DNA testing on a hair found on a wipe extracted from the throat of a woman at a care home for individuals with developmental disabilities. The reinvigorated investigation is focused on Cheryl Yewdall’s choking incident in Philadelphia almost three years ago, as detailed in court documents filed recently.
Yewdall was discovered lying face down on the floor with blue lips and surrounded by urine. Despite being taken to the hospital, she passed away five days later. The medical examiner was unable to determine how the 7-by-10-inch wipe ended up in her airway, leaving ambiguity surrounding whether her death on Jan. 31, 2022, at the age of 50 was accidental or deliberate. No charges have been brought forth.
Yewdall’s family has been in pursuit of answers regarding her tragic demise and have expressed appreciation for the latest developments. The family attorney, James Pepper, mentioned, “Cheryl’s mom is very happy that the attorney general’s office has taken this further necessary step to find out what happened to her daughter at Merakey. She wants — and deserves — answers.”
The wrongful death lawsuit filed by Yewdall’s mother implicates an unknown staff member at the Merakey Woodhaven facility in Philadelphia. Family attorneys have urged a judge to order DNA testing on a strand of hair discovered on the wipe, a crucial piece of evidence reportedly overlooked by city homicide investigators. After a subpoena was issued, the city agreed to send the wipe and hair for examination, which was later taken over by the state attorney general’s office.
The attorney general’s office, which declined to confirm or deny the existence of an investigation, is now handling the DNA testing as part of their criminal investigation responsibilities, as per a letter from Philadelphia’s deputy city solicitor. The withdrawal of a motion to compel the production of the wipe and hair was done by Pepper in recognition of the ongoing criminal investigation.
Merakey, the organization providing developmental, behavioral health, and educational services, with thousands of employees across various states, has refuted any involvement in Yewdall’s death. In response to the allegations, the company has stated that suggestions about their employee causing harm are baseless.
The legal battle continues, with the trial for the wrongful death suit slated for the coming year. Yewdall, who endured cerebral palsy and significant intellectual disabilities, resided at Woodhaven for forty years. Previous evidence brought to light by the family reveals instances of neglect leading up to her passing, including an undiagnosed broken leg and other injuries.
Additionally, the family’s lawsuit references Yewdall repeating threatening phrases she likely heard at the facility due to her condition of echolalia, where she echoed words and expressions. Merakey, headquartered in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania, is planning to close Woodhaven and transition many residents to smaller community-based residences in alignment with state policies and a broader shift away from larger institutions.
