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<p class="has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-13e437a6a3d82d61f7c434b4de30d62d wp-block-paragraph" style="color:#200808;font-size:14px"><strong>Andrea Merrell, 43, died on a couple of days after she was violently assaulted on<strong> Christmas Day by Jonathan Chet Winch, </strong>while working a shift at M Health Fairview Lakes Hospital in Wyoming, Minnesota </strong></p>



<p class="has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-79d1c18a040a79c43d0d901e2cbb8b8b wp-block-paragraph" style="color:#200808;font-size:14px"><strong>The female hospital security guard was viciously attacked by the much bigger 35-year-old male patient who was trying to escape a medical hold </strong></p>



<p class="has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-42a02b7af830867b6e3247c1bf439317 wp-block-paragraph" style="color:#200808;font-size:14px"><strong>Six-foot-two-inch, 363lbs Winch viciously attacked Merrell around 5.30pm after he pushed through large magnetic doors and fled the emergency room, &#8216;contrary to medical hold</strong></p>



<p class="has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-adbf506c5d8a519a791d10af7abacf88 wp-block-paragraph" style="color:#200808;font-size:14px"><strong>When Wyoming cops arrived, they spotted a hospital security vehicle with its lights on and a guard &#8216;lying unconscious on the round&#8217;</strong></p>



<p class="has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-9971249f830f31dba315b05430f6e025 wp-block-paragraph" style="color:#200808;font-size:14px"><strong>A shirtless Winch, then attempted to gain access to the security car before a police officer blocked his route with his squad car </strong></p>



<p class="has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-0fd3b5e5b5ce2463b048f6ab9f10f733 wp-block-paragraph" style="color:#200808;font-size:14px"><strong>Winch then jumped on the windshield of the officer&#8217;s vehicle before the cop managed to get him off and deployed his taser to subdue the suspect </strong></p>



<p class="has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4ed6bff538a3ad4bb39d65dfc4097446 wp-block-paragraph" style="color:#200808;font-size:14px"><strong>Winch who <strong>is due to appear in court on Jan. 2</strong>7, is being held on a $2 million bail for second-degree murder, and faces a maximum sentence of 40 years if he is convicted as charged</strong> </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Andrea-Merrell-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-491163" style="aspect-ratio:1.0021576968127737;width:840px;height:auto"/></figure>



<p class="has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Andrea Merrell, [photo], 43, a security hospital guard in the city of Wyoming, MN, died days after being physically assaulted by a male patient who broke out of the emergency room on Christmas Day</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A female hospital security guard was senselessly beaten to death on Christmas day in Minnesota by a male patient who was trying to escape a medical hold, police said. <br>Andrea Merrell, 43, died two days after she was savagely beaten on biggest holiday of the year by Jonathan Chet Winch while she was working a shift at M Health Fairview Lakes Hospital in the city of Wyoming, about 45 minutes outside of Minneapolis. Winch reportedly, assaulted Merrell before fleeing.<br>The 35-year-old, six-foot-two-inch-tall man weighing 363lbs from Wisconsin, viciously attacked the comparatively slight Merrell around 5.30pm after he pushed through large magnetic doors and fled the emergency room, &#8216;contrary to medical hold,&#8217; according to a criminal complaint. <br>Police officers called to the scene, on arrival spotted a hospital security vehicle with its lights on and a guard &#8216;lying unconscious on the ground.&#8217;<br>The assailant who was bare chested, dressed only in dark sweatpants bottoms, then attempted to gain access to the security car before a police officer blocked his flight route with his squad car.<br>The suspect then jumped on the windshield of the officer&#8217;s vehicle before the cop managed to get him off and deployed his taser, to fell Winch to the ground. <br>Merrell was transported to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, about 30 miles south of Wyoming, where she succumbed to her injuries on December 27.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/M-Health-Fairview-Lakes-Hospital-in-Wyoming-Minnesota-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-491164" style="width:810px;height:auto"/></figure>



<p class="has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph"><strong>The suspect, Jonathan Chet Winch allegedly struck Merrell and knocked her unconscious before police arrived on scene of the attack at M Health Fairview Lakes Hospital in Wyoming, Minnesota, on Dec. 25</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Winch refused the officer&#8217;s demands and went on to &#8216;advance&#8217; them while stating &#8216;I didn&#8217;t mean to hurt her,&#8217; the complaint read. After allegedly fighting back for about five minutes, he was arrested. <br>A motive for the attack and why Winch was on a medical hold remains has not been stated. <br>Additional officers and first responders rendered aid to Merrell, who had a very weak pulse, severe head trauma, and agonized breathing. She died two days later from her injuries. <br>According to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner, <a href="https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/wi-man-charged-murder-hospital-security-guards-beating-death/89-517f4b8b-f00b-4989-b98d-4183db77c491">Merrell&#8217;s cause of death </a>was from head injuries due to physical assault.<br>Surveillance footage taken outside the hospital showed &#8216;one smaller&#8217; and &#8216;one larger&#8217; individual engaging in a &#8216;physical struggle,&#8217; the complaint read. <br>Merrell, who was described as a &#8216;smaller-framed person,&#8217; was then seen lying on the pavement while Winch, a &#8216;larger-framed individual,&#8217; swung at the employee while on top of her. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Andrea-Merrell-far-right-2.png" alt="" class="wp-image-491165" style="aspect-ratio:1.6288812381350752;width:836px;height:auto"/></figure>



<p class="has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Consummate law officer Andrea Merrell [right], a firefighter with White Bear Lake Fire Dept, was also a <strong>reserve police officer with</strong> the White Bear Lake Police Dept</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In a statement following the fatal assault on one of their employees, M Health Fairview Services remembered Merrell as &#8216;a valued member of our security team.&#8217; <br>&#8216;Our hearts are with her loved ones and co-workers during this incredibly difficult time. We are focused on supporting our teams and ensuring they have the resources they need,&#8217; the hospital said in a Facebook post. <br>Merrell, originally from North Branch, has been remembered by her loved ones as someone with a bubbly personality who befriended almost anyone. <br>&#8216;We were supposed to be friends forever and that was cut short,&#8217; Pam Heaton, a friend of Merrell&#8217;s since high school, told <a href="https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-hospital-security-guard-suffered-fatal-blows-while-allegedly-pinned-down-by-patient-on-christmas/601554175" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="">The Minnesota Star Tribune.</a> <br>’I&#8217;m still shocked. I’m still in denial,&#8217; Heaton continued. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Andrea-Merrell-4.png" alt="" class="wp-image-491170" style="width:840px;height:auto"/></figure>



<p class="has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Described as &#8216;amazing&#8217; Andrea Merrell [photo] has been remembered by her family, friends and colleagues as a &#8216;nice person&#8217; with a bubbly personality who befriended almost anyone</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">She, along with Merrell&#8217;s other longtime friend, Heather Miller, said Merrell loved her job and worked in several security positions over the years. <br>&#8216;She was very tough, she was strong. She liked to help people. She was doing amazing, she was doing great things,&#8217; Miller told the outlet. <br>She also served as a reserve police officer and firefighter, according to the White Bear Lake Police Department. <br>An online fundraiser has since been launched on <a href="https://giveahand.com/fundraiser/er-patient-attacks-guard-on-christmas?fbclid=IwY2xjawO_xvdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe_kdwZaIDZ69nttsc0Jq9sRvhia_CmvnnUWTflMd0SA_UE8BEPC7LFbpaEnA_aem_l23XnliYv5Oj3i-uodxwyw" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="">Give A Hand</a> to help out Merrell&#8217;s family. The page wich as of Tuesday evening, nearly $3,000 of the $100,000 goal had been raised, announced that a memorial service will be held on January 11 in Lindstrom, Minnesota. <br>Winch is being held in jail on a $2 million bail for second-degree murder, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years if he is convicted as charged. He is due to appear in court on January 27, and the court has ordered a mental competency exam to be conducted while Winch remains in custody.</p>

Male patient who beat female hospital security officer to death on Christmas Day was trying to flee ‘medical hold’ – Jonathan Chet Winch, 35, is charged with murder
