A federal investigation has been started into the deaths of a two men at a state-run home operated by the Department of Mental Health. The investigation focuses on the deaths of Rutherford Wallace and Michael Pallme. Wallace was severely scalded while being bathed. Pallme died after swallowing a pen and other things, although he was supposed to have been watched 24 hours a day.
Both died at the Northwest Habilitation Center in St. Louis County. The State Mental Health Department says it’s cooperating with the investigation.