Social work contractor gets 7 years in Philly case linked to disabled teen’s starvation death
By APThursday, April 22, 2010
Pa. worker gets 7 years in teen’s starvation death
PHILADELPHIA — A child services contractor has been sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison in a case linked to the starvation death of a disabled 14-year-old Philadelphia girl.
A judge on Thursday gave 72-year-old Earle McNeill a far longer term than the four colleagues sentenced to date from MultiEthnic Behavioral Services. Four others were convicted at trial this year and are awaiting sentence.
Prosecutors say the company forged documents after the 2006 death of Danieal (dan-YEHL’) Kelly to suggest home visits to her family and other needy clients that never occurred.
McNeill is a company co-founder who pleaded guilty to one fraud count. Defense lawyer Jeffrey Miller says McNeill helped backdate documents amid a city audit.
Miller says McNeill may appeal his sentence.
