TORONTO -- Police have charged two individuals with manslaughter after an incident at Toronto General Hospital back in the spring.
Police say that two security guards were working at the hospital on May 11 when they got into a physical interaction with a patient.
The patient, identified as 43-year-old Danielle Stephanie Warriner, went into medical distress during that interaction and was then pronounced dead on May 27.
Police began a sudden death investigation the next day but months went by without an arrest.
In a news release issued on Tuesday, police confirmed that they have now charged two individuals with manslaughter and criminal negligence causing death.
Amanda Rojas-Silva, 42, of Stouffville, and Shane Hutley, 35, of Brougham, were both arrested on Nov. 30.
They are scheduled to appear in court at Old City Hall on Dec. 15.
“I'm gutted, I'm heartbroken but I'm validated,” Warriner’s sister Denise said during an interview with CTV News Toronto late Tuesday afternoon. “This is, it doesn't feel good but at the same time, it is an acknowledgement that there was senseless death, a preventable death.”
Denise Warriner said that her sister went to Toronto General Hospital on May 10 due to some breathing issues she was having.
She said that as a result of those issues her sister was becoming confused. Then on May 11 the incident with the security guards happened.
While the circumstances leading up to that incident are somewhat unclear, what happened next is not.
“She suffered a deprivation of oxygen which then as a result she went into cardiac arrest, and of course then sustained deprivation of oxygen to her brain, she had a brain injury,” Denise Warriner said. “One of the most painful things I could ever imagine in my life is to make the decision to remove my sister from life support.”
On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the University Health Network declined to comment on the case, given the fact that it is now before the courts.
They did, however, share a statement that was sent to all staff last month.
In it, University Health Network President and CEO Dr. Kevin Smith expressed his “deepest condolences” to Warriner’s family.
He said that when all of the investigations are completed, hospital officials “will offer to meet with the family to go over what we have learned, the recommendations from the investigations, and the actions we must take in response.”
“To have this happen while Ms. Warriner was a patient in our hospital is disturbing and distressing to everyone – and the impact of the loss to her family is devastating,” he said. “On behalf of UHN’s Board of Trustees and Senior Management Forum, we offer our deepest condolences.”
Police say that their investigation into the incident is ongoing.
