Thomas Hess, a Las Vegas physician, has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor obstruction of justice in the suicide of Erica Blasberg.According to reports, Hess admitted to removing a suicide note and prescription medications from Blasberg's home before police showed up to investigate, wanting to spare her family the supposed embarrassment of a suicide.
Hess was sentenced to one year probation and 40 hours of community service.
Blasberg, a 25-year-old who joined the LPGA Tour in 2005, was found on May 9 with a plastic bag over her head. Hess made the 911 call to police.
Blasberg's parents initially expressed skepticism that the cause of death was suicide. On May 10 Erica's father, Mel Blasberg, said, "At first glance it looks like she might have taken her own life, but at second glance, something is very, very strange about it. We're waiting for the police to make an investigation."
Four days after Blasberg was found dead, police raided the office and home of Hess in search of "small blue oval pills in a 30 package blister pack," as well as a specific type of trash bag. The same type of pill package and trash bag were found in Blasberg's residence. Blasberg's parents said she had been taking Xanax for anxiety.
In August the Clark County coroner's office ruled that Blasberg's death a suicide. Asphyxia was cited as the primary cause of her death and the presence of prescription drugs in her system was also cited as a "significant factor in her death." Police issued a misdemeanor arrest warrant for Hess on obstruction charges and he turned himself in days later.
On Wednesday, Mel Blasberg told KTNV, ABC's Las Vegas affiliate, that Hess was partly responsible for Erica's death.
"I felt that the verdict was insignificant," Mel Blasberg said. "I think the way Dr. Hess acted and didn't act is partly responsible for Erica's death. But I was looking for some remorse."
In August, Mel Blasberg told ABC News, "He's central to Erica's death in terms of being there before she died, and their relationship clearly went beyond doctor-patient." He also said he believed Hess was being less than forthcoming about what happened the weekend of Erica's death because of his "inappropriate relationship" with her.
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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2010/12/02/erica-blasbergs-doctor-pleads-guilty-in-suicide/
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