The Pennsylvania attorney general's office has commenced DNA testing on a hair found on a wipe retrieved from the throat of Cheryl Yewdall, who died almost three years ago at a care facility in Philadelphia. This effort is part of a renewed investigation into her choking death, which remains unresolved as either accidental or intentional. Discovered in distress on the floor blue-lipped and in a pool of urine, Yewdall's case has since prompted a $15 million wrongful death lawsuit by her family, signaling profound suspicion toward Merakey Woodhaven staff.
Attorney James Pepper stated, "Cheryl's mom is very happy that the attorney general's office has taken this further necessary step to find out what happened to her daughter at Merakey." The hair, detected through magnified police evidence photos by a family pathologist, is a critical potential clue that city investigators previously missed. Following this revelation, the state attorney general assumed control of the evidence, leading Pepper to withdraw his motion for private DNA testing due to the "pending criminal investigation."
Merakey, a significant provider of developmental services, has denied any misconduct, suggesting the EMT personnel handling Yewdall during COVID-19 protocols could be responsible for the placement of the wipe. Their legal defense insists no Merakey employee harmed Yewdall, while the family's legal team claims expert testimony confirms the wipe was already present when emergency services arrived, and that Yewdall had suffered other injuries in the year before her death. The case is set for trial next year amid Merakey's planned closure of Woodhaven facility in January.
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