Crime & Safety

Nonprofit Responds to Murder at Roxborough Apartment

Resources for Human Development issues statement about patients at Parker Avenue apartment.

Two days after Philadelphia Police arrested a blind woman on related to the death of a at a Parker Avenue apartment, the nonprofit that works with the deceased issued a statement.

Geraldine Cherry, 50, is charged with homicide related to the suffocation death of Kathleen McEwan, 70, at 300 Parker Ave., Philadelphia Police said. A funeral home discovered items jammed down McEwan's throat, and the Philadelphia Medical Examiner ruled it a homicide.

McEwan was a special needs patient who was placed at the apartment by Resources for Human Development, a nonprofit that deals with human services. The organization is based at 4700 Wissahickon Ave. in Hunting Park.

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RHD CEO Bob Fishman issued a statement Friday afternoon.

"Resources for Human Development was notified of the suspicious circumstances surrounding an incident involving a client in our care by the medical examiner and the police," he said.

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"An investigation is ongoing, and we are cooperating fully with that investigation. Because of issues of client confidentiality and HIPAA regulations, we cannot comment further at this time."

Police originally thought McEwan died of natural causes June 10, until a Willow Grove funeral home discovered rope and a candy wrapper lodged in her throat. A medical examiner ruled it a homicide, and Cherry, her roommate, was arrested Wednesday.

The Philadelphia Daily News reported that Cherry admitted to stuffing the items down McEwan's throat.


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