A 34-year-old woman in Ohio was convicted of numerous charges for making hundreds of fraudulent 911 calls, which clogged emergency systems and resulted in the death of another person, authorities said. Keisha S. Kennedy formally pled guilty last week to one felony offense of disrupting public services, one felony count of manufacturing false alarms, and 25 counts of misusing 911 systems, according to authorities.
Authorities stated that the Zanesville woman was “effectively using local first responders for her entertainment for ambulance rides to the hospital.”
CBP Seizes 17 Pounds of FENTANYL, HEROIN, AND COCAINE HIDDEN IN CAR MUFFLER at San Diego Border
According to a Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office press release, Kennedy has called 911 “almost 400 times” since 2020 to report “various illnesses.” As a result, the South Zanesville Fire Department (SZFD), which handles emergency responses in the area, found itself “strained by her improper and frequent use of emergency resources.”
Prosecutors stated that the consequences of Kennedy’s actions were felt throughout the community, particularly because first responders transporting her to the hospital for “nonexistent emergencies” meant that such services were unavailable to respond to true emergencies.
“For example, SZFD firefighters were unable to attend to a call for a person who was unable to breathe because they were transporting Kennedy for a bogus call. The person who was having problems breathing subsequently died, according to the announcement. “In another case, SZFD was understaffed for a fire, due to personnel attending to Kennedy.”
According to prosecutors, Kennedy made so many 911 calls that it was not uncommon for her to call multiple times in a single day.
The calls persisted despite doctors at Genesis Hospital “repeatedly” informing Kennedy that she had no medical problems. Regardless, every time she was brought in, the facility was “forced to triage her,” according to the release, highlighting that taxpayers paid for her transportation and hospital visits through Medicaid.
Before pleading guilty, a forensic psychologist assessed Kennedy and decided that she had “a factitious disorder,” which prosecutors said “means she’s a liar.” According to the Mayo Clinic, the illness affects persons who deceive others “by appearing sick, purposely getting sick, or self-injury.”
Minnesota MAN Pleads Guilty to MURDERING GIRLFRIEND DAYS AFTER JAIL RELEASE
For example, on August 23, 2023, law enforcement authorities responded to a report of a behavioral emergency at Licking Memorial Hospital involving Kennedy, according to prosecutors. When questioned by emergency personnel, Kennedy “pretended she was suddenly unable to stand or walk.”
“After being helped into a sitting position on a bench, Kennedy pretended to be unconscious,” according to the announcement. “She then pretended to wake up and told officers that she did not understand the meaning of being read her rights because she was disabled.”
Doctors at the hospital confirmed to authorities that she was not disabled and did not require medical treatment.
According to the announcement, Kennedy abused emergency services resources in numerous other counties, including Licking, Guernsey, Franklin, and Cuyahoga. Last year, she was guilty of exploiting the Licking County 911 system.
“Obviously some type of check or balance needs to exist, so that this type of abuse is more quickly reported by EMS to law enforcement because 350 pointless ambulance runs are ridiculous,” Muskingum County Assistant Prosecutor John Litle said in a statement. “South Zanesville Police Chief Mark Ross brought this matter to my attention, and I was completely astonished. We contacted the Sheriff’s Office for an investigation, and Detective Richard Perry was able to rapidly close a case and put an end to the abuse.”
Kennedy’s sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.