Lawsuit alleges Greene County 911 didn't send help for dying mother

WAYNESBURG, Pa. (KDKA) - Greene County and its 911 center are the subjects of a lawsuit that accuses them of denying emergency medical services to a dying woman. 

Kelly Titchenell alleges in July 2020, the 911 operator ignored her call for help. She said the operator told her services would not be given to her mother because it would be a "waste of resources."

Titchenell said first responders weren't notified, no help ever came and her mother died.

"it's not normal they wouldn't send an ambulance. I was begging him," Titchenell told KDKA-TV.

"I'm holding my mom, what's left of my mom," said Robbie Kronk, the alleged victim's son. "I'll never kiss her again, hug her again."

It's been nearly two years Titchenell and Kronk lost their mother, Diania Kronk. On July 1, 2020, Kronk told his sister that their mom was sick. He could not call 911 because there is not any cell service at their home in Nineveh.

Titchenell jumped in her car and called 911. KDKA-TV has exclusively obtained the 911 call. 

Titchenell: She's turning yellow. The last time I saw her was like a week ago. She had lost so much weight, there's nothing left to her. And now my brother just said she's lying in the bed making noises. I don't know, but we need to get her to a hospital.

Dispatcher: OK, is she willing to go to the hospital?

Titchenell: She will be because I'm on my way there. So, she's going.

The dispatcher initially said they would send an ambulance.

Dispatcher: We'll start an ambulance up there. We really need to make sure she's willing to go first. Is there any way you can talk to your brother if he's there and ask her if she's willing to go? Cause if she's not, like I said, they can't force her.

Titchenell: She's gonna go. Cause if not, she's gonna die.

A few minutes, later, the dispatcher suggested that Titchenell hangs up and calls back when she gets to her mother's house. 

Dispatcher: How far are you away from the house?

Titchenell: I'll be there in 10 minutes.

Dispatcher: OK, how about calling us back to make sure she's willing to go before we send resources out there in case she says no.

But Titchenell was not able to call back because of the lack of cell service. She and her brother could not physically transport their mom to the hospital on their own.

The next day, their mom died.

"If they would have came, she would have been alive today," Titchenell said.

"I don't care who it is," Robbie added. "If you call 911, they need to send help. It don't make no sense to me. I had to watch my mom die all night long."

Titchenell filed a lawsuit in federal court last week. According to the lawsuit, which names Greene County, the 911 operator did not notify first responders about the medical emergency and the operator had no authority to deny services.

The family's attorney, Lawrence Bolind Jr., said the dispatcher should have sent an EMT, at the very least. 

"I felt like my mother wasn't good enough," Titchenell said.

The complaint names assistant communications director Richard Policz, communications director Greg Leathers and dispatcher Leon Price as defendants.   

Greene County's EMA director said officials are aware of the lawsuit, but he declined to comment. It is not clear if the dispatcher still works for the county.

Titchenell said her mom died from a loss of blood. She had a hole in her esophagus.

A 911 dispatcher in Allegheny County told Jennifer Borrasso they would have sent an ambulance regardless, which can always be canceled if the patient is ok. Another source in Beaver County said if someone truly needed help, they would send an ambulance.