Murder case against Jersey Shore nurse dismissed
The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office dismissed a murder charge against a nurse who previously worked at the Jersey Shore Medical Center. The woman was previously charged with murdering a 72-year-old patient by giving him an an unprescribed paralytic medication that would "make him comfortable" since his situation was terminal. Now, Superior Court Judge Francis J. Vernoia, at the request of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, dismissed the murder indictment as the state would not have been able to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
If the defendant had been convicted at trial, she was facing thirty (30) years to life in prison. However, she refused to take a plea offer in February to assault which would have resulted in a probationary sentence. This shows tremendous resolve on the part of the defendant as she was willing to risk significant jail time to prove her innocence. For additional information on this case, see the Asbury Park Press article entitled, "Jersey Shore nurse Lorie Hentges: Murder charge dismissed".
