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WEST VIRGINIA RECORD

Thursday, October 31, 2024

Former investigator sues DHHR for retaliation

Kanawhaannex

CHARLESTON – A former investigator for the state Medical Examiner’s Office is suing the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources after she claims she was retaliated against.

Regina D. Reynolds was employed as an investigator with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for 15 years until that employment was abruptly and unlawfully terminated, according to the complaint filed Dec. 10 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Reynolds claims she was retaliated against for refusing to destroy human remains as part of a cover-up on the part of acting Chief Medical Examiner Don Raynes, and for reporting the wrongdoing to agents of the West Virginia Office of Inspector General.

The plaintiff discovered the defendant had made a mistake regarding the handling of the remains of a deceased individual, D.H. and that D.H.’s death certificate indicated that he had been buried at the West Virginia National Cemetery when his skeletal remains were still in a box in one of the evidence rooms, according to the suit.

Reynolds claims D.H. was either not buried in the West Virginia National Cemetery in Grafton and the grave bearing his name was empty or another person was buried in that grave.

When Reynolds informed Raynes of the mistake, he ordered her to incinerate D.H.’s remains and she refused to do so and reported to the OIG what Raynes had told her to do, according to the suit.

Reynolds claims within 24 hours, Rayne began to search the evidence room and old case files of Reynolds in an attempt to find something he could use to justify terminating her employment.

Six days later, Reynolds was suspended without pay and her employment was later terminated, while Raynes remained an employee of the defendant, according to the suit.

Reynolds claims she was terminated in retaliation for refusing to comply with Rayne’s directive to destroy D.H.’s remains and reporting to OIG his wrongdoing.

Reynolds is seeking lost wages, benefits, back pay, front pay, damages for indignity, embarrassment, humiliation, annoyance, inconvenience and emotional distress with pre- and post-judgment interest. She is being represented by Todd S. Bailess, Rodney A. Smith and Joy B. Mega of Bailess Smith PLLC.

The case is assigned to Circuit Judge James Stucky.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 15-C-2180

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