Report: Center where comatose woman had baby probed in 2016

PHOENIX – State regulators reportedly wanted to remove developmentally disabled patients from a Phoenix long-term care facility years before a woman in a vegetative state gave birth.

The Arizona Republic newspaper reported Sunday that Hacienda HealthCare faced a 2016 criminal investigation.

Arizona authorities accused the facility of billing about $4 million in bogus 2014 charges for wages, transportation, housekeeping, maintenance and supplies.

The criminal case was dropped in 2017 and no charges were filed. A court battle is continuing to force Hacienda to turn over financial records.

Phoenix police have said the 29-year-old woman incapacitated since age 3 was sexually assaulted and gave birth last month.

Investigators are collecting DNA from Hacienda’s male employees and others who may have had contact with her in their effort to identify a suspect.

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Information from: The Arizona Republic, http://www.azcentral.com