SC Nurses Arrested & Charged for Neglecting Patient's Wounds

Image: Alyssa Morris and Heather Gowan / Magnolia Manor

Alyssa Paige Morris, 22, of Cowpens, and Heather Star Gowan, 44, of Gaffney in South Carolina were recently arrested and charged with two counts of neglect of a vulnerable adult. According to South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson’s office, the two LPNs were charged with neglecting to care for the wounds of two residents at Magnolia Manor.

A joint investigation between the Spartanburg Police Department and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (SCMFCU) found that between September 9th and September 11th, 2022, the two nurses allegedly failed to provide appropriate care as per the medical orders. 

The SCMFCU said that both defendants intentionally failed to change the victims’ wound dressings, causing their wounds to increase in size, resulting in both victims suffering unnecessary harm and risk to their physical health.

Per the website, Magnolia Manor is located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and “provides personalized skilled nursing services designed to consider and address the needs of every patient.”

According to South Carolina law, the two victims were considered vulnerable adults based on the fact they resided in a skilled nursing facility. 

Image: Alyssa Morris and Heather Gowan

The South Carolina Labor Licensing Regulation verification website shows that both Morris and Gowan hold active LPN licenses. Gowan has been licensed since September 2007 and there is no disciplinary action against the license at this time. Morris, on the other hand, received her LPN license in February 2022 and there is no disciplinary action against the license at this time. 

Nurse.org reached out to Magnolia Manor for comment and did not receive a reply at the time of publication.