Houston VA Nurse Christiana Ogbonnaya Charged with Falsifying Records After Veteran's Suicide
- Victor Nwoko
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
A former nurse at the Houston VA Medical Center has been federally charged with falsifying medical records in connection with the suicide of a 74-year-old U.S. Army veteran, James Duplechain. The veteran was found dead in his room last July, and the case has since sparked federal scrutiny and family demands for accountability.
Christiana Ogbonnaya, who worked the overnight shift at the Houston VA on July 26, 2024, is accused of making false entries in official medical records. Prosecutors say she claimed to have checked on Duplechain multiple times during the night — at 11:10 p.m., 1:15 a.m., and 2:55 a.m. — but security footage and evidence show she had not seen him after 8:45 p.m.
Duplechain was discovered unresponsive at 4:39 a.m. on July 27, hanging from a phone charging cable. He was pronounced dead at 5:05 a.m. The Harris County Medical Examiner later ruled his death a suicide.
According to court documents unsealed on May 13, Ogbonnaya was assigned to care for three patients during her shift, including Duplechain. Federal investigators allege that instead of making her rounds, Ogbonnaya entered false information into the VA system to suggest she had properly monitored Duplechain throughout the night.
If convicted of making or using false writings or documents, Ogbonnaya faces up to five years in prison. Her attorney has not responded to requests for comment. When contacted, Ogbonnaya reportedly hung up the phone.
VA officials have confirmed that Ogbonnaya is no longer employed at the facility and stated that they are fully cooperating with the ongoing federal investigation. Meanwhile, the Texas Board of Nursing still lists Ogbonnaya as a licensed nurse through 2025 and has indicated it is reviewing the matter.
Duplechain's widow believes that her husband’s death could have been prevented had the nurse performed her duties. “If someone had just checked on him that night, maybe he’d still be here,” she said.
James Duplechain served in the Vietnam War after being drafted into the U.S. Army. Following his service, he worked in construction and spent 28 years as an operator at Bayer Chemical. Remembered by family as a strong, loving, and spiritually grounded man, his obituary described him as someone who cherished family, was devoted to his community, and had an unmatched love for dogs.
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