Former state worker will be charged; allegedly left disabled man to drown

A state worker who allegedly left a disabled man unattended in a bath, leading to his drowning, has been arrested in Isanti County.

County attorney Jeff Edblad said the worker left 56-year-old Gerald Hyska alone at a state-run group home in late August.

Edblad says the state worker faces a felony manslaughter charge.

"The defendant allegedly left the group home resident in the tub while she took a telephone call that lasted approximately six minutes," Edblad said. "And then the allegations are she had forgotten about the resident in the bathtub.

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Edblad says the state worker called 911 when she found Hyska underwater and unresponsive.

Minnesota Department of Human Services commissioner Lucinda Jesson released a statement Thursday evening. Jesson said DHS is reviewing its policies and procedures to ensure the people in their care are safe. Jesson wrote that the state worker involved is no longer an employee.

The state worker has a first court appearance Friday afternoon, and could face 10 years in prison if convicted of second-degree manslaughter. The investigation only implicates the state worker involved, Edblad said

Calls to the employee's home weren't immediately returned.