Ex-respiratory therapist takes plea deal in killing of two patients

Posted at 11:05 AM, April 26, 2023

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Scripps News Kansas City) — A plea deal Friday means a woman once accused of killing two patients while working as a respiratory therapist will be sentenced on lesser charges.

Jennifer Hall, 42, pleaded guilty in Clinton County, Missouri, court to two counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of second-degree attempted assault.

Jennifer Hall boking photo

This May 12 booking photo provided by the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office shows Jennifer Hall. (Livingston County Sheriff’s Office via KSHB)

Hall’s case was transferred in October 2022 from Livingston County, Missouri, to Clinton County.

Hall, 42, served as a respiratory therapist at Hedrick Medical Center in Chillicothe from Dec. 16, 2001 through May 21, 2002, when she was placed on administrative leave following the death of patient Fern Franco.

Hall had faced murder charges in the deaths of Franco and a second patient, David Wesley Harper.

The two involuntary manslaughter pleas came in the deaths of Franco and another patient, Coval Gann.

The attempted assault charge dealt with Hall putting insulin in the breathing treatment apparatus of another patient.

All other charges Hall faced in other courts were dismissed.

No sentencing date has been set.

This story was originally published April 24 by KSHB in Kanas City, an E.W. Scripps Company.