Delaware

Body of 2-year-old child found in Delaware River after she and her missing brother were swept away by floodwaters | CNN

Published

10 months ago

July 22, 2023

Body of 2-year-old child found in Delaware River after she and her missing brother were swept away by floodwaters | CNN

CNN
—

The body of a 2-year-old girl who vanished last weekend with her younger brother after a wall of water from intense flooding swept them away was found Friday evening in the Delaware River, officials said.

Authorities recovered Matilda “Mattie” Sheils’ body more than 30 miles from where she vanished during flash flooding in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Her body was discovered after the Philadelphia Police Department received two 911 calls about a body being spotted in the river, Upper Makefield Fire Company Chief Tim Brewer said during a news conference Friday.

“Although Mattie was found 32 miles away from where she was lost, she has never been closer to all of our hearts as she is now,” Brewer said.

The child’s brother, 9-month-old Conrad Sheils, remains missing after the violent storm battered parts of southeast Pennsylvania last weekend. The children’s mother, 32-year-old Katie Seley, was killed in the flash flooding, and her body was recovered last Saturday.

Crews plan to continue searching for Conrad Sheils.

“We will reunite him with his family and sister,” Brewer said. “We will work tirelessly to ensure that Conrad is found.”

Search efforts are planned to include marine assets up and down the Delaware River as well as K-9 teams and divers, river conditions permitting, Brewer explained.

The Sheils children and their family were visiting from South Carolina and driving to a barbecue when the flash flooding slammed into them, Brewer said Sunday.

The mother and a grandmother grabbed Mattie and Conrad while the father grabbed the children’s 4-year-old brother.

The father and his 4-year-old son “miraculously” made it to safety, the fire chief said. But the mother, grandmother and younger children were swept away in the deadly waters.

The children’s grandmother survived and has been treated at a hospital, police said.

In addition to the children’s mother and Mattie, the storm last weekend killed four other people in Pennsylvania’s Bucks County.

The Bucks County coroner identified the other victims as Enzo Depiero, 78, and Linda Depiero, 74, of Newtown Township; Susan Barnhart, 53, of Titusville, New Jersey; and Yuko Love, 64, of Newtown Township. According to a news release from the coroner, they all died from drowning. Love’s cause of death was listed as drowning with multiple injuries.

The victims were “caught” in the flash flood, Brewer said at a news conference earlier this week, underscoring they didn’t travel into high waters.

“This was a flash flood. … The wall of water came to them,” he said.

Flash flooding happens quickly, generally shortly after intense rain falls faster than the soil can absorb, making it even more life-threatening, according to the National Weather Service. It takes 2 feet of rushing water to carry away most vehicles, including trucks and SUVs, according to the weather service.

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Delaware

Delaware State Police Escapes Ex-Officer's Sex Bias Suit – Law360 Employment Authority

Published

5 hours ago

May 18, 2024

Press Room

Delaware State Police Escapes Ex-Officer's Sex Bias Suit – Law360 Employment Authority

By Patrick Hoff · May 17, 2024, 9:15 PM EDT

The Delaware State Police on Friday defeated a former officer’s lawsuit alleging she was constantly bullied by superiors and eventually fired because of her gender, with a federal judge finding she…

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Delaware

Hospital cost review board passes Delaware Senate

Published

12 hours ago

May 17, 2024

Press Room

Hospital cost review board passes Delaware Senate

According to a news release from Delaware Health and Social Services earlier this month, health care spending in Delaware increased by 6.3% in 2022, outpacing the 3% growth rate benchmark. The previous year saw an 11% increase as more people resumed health care visits they had put off during the pandemic.

“The 6.3% per capita increase in 2022 is significant, but there was an expectation of some continuing health care spending rebound effect in the post-pandemic period,” the news release said. “Moving forward into 2023 and beyond, DHSS expects Delaware’s health care market to be in a steadier state.”

Carney set a spending benchmark in 2018, which was an aspirational goal for annual per-capita-rate health care spending growth. The 3.8% benchmark took effect in 2019. It’s since fluctuated to various percentages below 4%.

Once up and running, the review board would review each hospital’s budget annually. If a hospital failed to meet spending benchmarks, it would be required to develop a performance improvement plan. Once a hospital met spending targets for three consecutive years, the board would release it from the performance plan oversight. When a hospital successfully meets its budget goals for three consecutive years, it would no longer be required to participate in the budget approval process.

“This legislation is not about punishing hospitals, but rather ensuring our constituents are able to access quality and affordable health care and to put a system into place to slow down the skyrocketing costs that we have experienced in Delaware,” House Speaker Valerie Longhurst said during a debate in the House.

Advocates of the legislation say hospitals are the primary driver of higher costs. However, DHA President and CEO Brian Frazee has argued pharmacy drugs and long-term care are more significant cost drivers than hospitals.

Senate Minority Whip Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown, said he was concerned about an “attack on hospitals” and that the hospitals were forced to come to the table after being backed into a deal.

“It disturbed me greatly when one hospital had told me two days ago that before House Bill 350 was introduced, no one from the General Assembly, not from this chamber, not from the other chamber, picked up the phone and called them to discuss and understand hospital costs,” he said. “Not one. Is this a collaboration? Is this a partnership? Not in any definition that I’m familiar with.”

The bill heads back to the House for approval of the Senate amendment, where it passed 21-16 on a near party-line vote, with three Democrats voting in opposition. If the House signs off and no other changes are made, it will then head to Gov. John Carney’s desk.

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Delaware

Delaware State Police form new unit to crack down on 'High Intensity' roadways

Published

19 hours ago

May 17, 2024

Press Room

Delaware State Police form new unit to crack down on 'High Intensity' roadways

The Delaware State Police (DSP) announced the formation of a new unit that will focus on high-visibility traffic enforcement on designated roadways.

DSP announced the creation of the new Highway Safety Unit (HSU) on May 16.

The HSU is an eleven trooper unit that will primarily focus on traffic enforcement on the following “High Intensity” roadways:

Interstate 95 (from the Maryland line to the Pennsylvania line)
Interstate 495 (from the I-95 junction south of Wilmington northbound to the I-95 merge just south of the Pennsylvania line)
Interstate 295 (from I-95 to the Delaware Memorial Bridge)
State Route 1 (entirety)
Other highways identified by the Superintendent of the Delaware State Police or their designee in coordination with DelDOT and the Office of Highway Safety based on factors such as speed, aggressive driving complaints, crash data, and DUI incidents.

“As we remain focused on reducing fatalities and crashes in our state, the new DSP Highway Safety Unit enables us to devote full-time resources to proactively address traffic safety priorities. This dedicated unit will be a visible presence on our highways and instrumental in preventing crashes, minimizing injuries, and saving lives,” said Secretary of Safety and Homeland Security Nathaniel McQueen, Jr.

“The HSU is a proactive initiative to combat traffic safety challenges in Delaware. We are committed to deploying our resources strategically to address areas of concern and promote safer driving behaviors,” said Colonel Melissa Zebley, Superintendent of the Delaware State Police. The DSP is excited to collaborate with partnering agencies and the community to achieve the shared goal of making the roadways safer for everyone.”

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