A male nurse has been arrested and is expected to face chages of rape after a woman who has been in a coma for 14 years gave birth last month.
Phoenix Police announced that Nathan Sutherland, 36, who was employed at the Hacienda HealthCare centre in Phoenix, Arizona, was arrested today after his DNA “matched the baby”.
Chief Jeri Williams said the hospital worker was responsible for caring for the patient during the time she was sexually assaulted.
The 29-year-old mother was a patient at the 60-bed care facility and has been in a vegetative state for more than a decade after nearly drowning.
Sutherland has been booked into Marciopa Jail on one charge of sexual assault and one charge of abusing a vulnerable adult.
Chief Williams said: “The investigation was, and still is, the highest priority of our police department.”
Speaking at a press conference, Sgt. Tommy Thompson said: “We may not know how many times this occurred.
“We can’t always choose the way we come into this life, but this community can choose to love this baby. I’m told the baby is fine.”
Police said Sutherland was a licensed practical nurse and had worked at the facility since 2011.
Police said the baby was near or at full term and is doing “quite well” and is believed to have been released from hospital.
An investigation was launched after the woman unexpectedly went into labour last month.
In a bid to identify the child’s father, search warrants were issued to obtain DNA samples from men working at the Hacienda HealthCare centre.
Police said Nathan Sutherland was arrested on the basis of DNA evidence.
The CEO of Hacienda HealthCare Bill Timmons resigned shortly after the investigation began.