A tragic incident at a Minnesota hospital on Christmas Day resulted in the death of a security guard, allegedly beaten by a patient attempting to escape. Andrea Merrell, 43, succumbed to her injuries two days after the violent assault in the hospital car park.
Christmas Day Tragedy Unfolds at Hospital
The events began on the evening of Thursday, 25 December, at M Health Fairview Lakes Hospital in Wyoming, Minnesota. Police were alerted shortly before 5:30 pm regarding a man, later identified as Jonathan Winch, 35, of Wisconsin, trying to break through the hospital's large magnetic doors.
Court documents indicate Winch was attempting to leave the emergency department in violation of a medical hold, though the specific reason for the hold was not disclosed. Security guard Andrea Merrell responded to the incident.
A Violent Struggle and Fatal Assault
Authorities arriving at the scene discovered Merrell injured and unresponsive in the parking lot. Winch was allegedly trying to break into her security vehicle at the time, wearing only sweatpants despite the winter conditions.
When an officer confronted him, Winch reportedly jumped onto the windshield of the police car. After commands to get on the ground were ignored, the officer deployed a Taser. A physical struggle ensued for approximately five minutes, during which Winch allegedly stated, 'I didn't mean to hurt her.'
Security footage reviewed by police later showed a 'physical struggle' between Winch and Merrell. Documents describe the 'smaller-framed' guard being pinned to the pavement and repeatedly struck by the 'larger-framed' Winch.
Aftermath and Charges
Merrell was rushed to Regions Hospital in St. Paul but died two days later. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner cited traumatic head trauma as the cause of death.
Jonathan Winch was arrested and has been charged with second-degree murder. He is being held on $2 million bail and was required to undergo a mental competency assessment while in custody. Court records show he is not yet represented by an attorney and is next due in court on 27 January.
The community and Merrell's colleagues have been left devastated. 'She was the most kind-hearted soul,' her best friend told local news. 'She was supposed to be our friend for her life, and that was taken away from us.'
Merrell also served as a reserve police officer with the White Bear Police Department and fire department, who expressed their sorrow in a social media post.
M Health Fairview released a statement calling Merrell a 'valued member of our security team' and offering support to her loved ones and coworkers.
This fatal attack highlights the serious issue of workplace violence in healthcare. According to US Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare and social assistance saw the highest rates of such violence in 2021 and 2022, with women comprising around 80% of the workforce.
