Woman says husband walked out of Prestera Center, fell to his death

CHARLESTON – A Jackson County woman is suing over claims her husband fell to his death after walking out of a mental health facility.

Krista Phillips, administratrix of the estate of Marrion Keith Phillips, deceased, filed a lawsuit Aug. 29 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Prestera Center for Mental Health Services Inc., Prestera Group Home Corporation, Prestera Group Home Inc., Prestera Foundation for Behavioral Health Services Inc., and Prestera John Doe, citing wrongful death.

According to the complaint, Marrion Phillips was picked up in Cross Lanes by the Kanawha County Sheriff's Office on Sept. 1, 2012, with a BAC of .203, and was dropped at the defendants' facility on Morris Street in Charleston for his safety. The complaint states Phillips was then allowed to walk out a fire exit door, and he fell to his death near the Kanawha River off the Interstate 64 bridge near Pennsylvania Avenue and Kanawha Boulevard.

According to the lawsuit, Prestera employees claimed to have taken Phillips's vital signs when he arrived, but video footage shows that this was not the case, and reports were written claiming they'd contacted the police when he left, but police say otherwise.

Krista Phillips is seeking damages, funeral and burial expenses, and attorneys' fees.

She is being represented in the case by attorney Patrick E. McFarland in Parkersburg. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge James C. Stucky.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 14-C-1566