TOMAH, Wis. — A hospice patient’s final days took a disturbing turn at the Tomah Veterans Affairs Medical Center after a nurse allegedly removed his oxygen and left him without it for about an hour and a half, according to a criminal complaint.
The patient, a 75-year-old man suffering from pulmonary fibrosis, had an order requiring him to receive oxygen continuously. But on Aug. 17, 2025, authorities say he was found on the bathroom floor without his oxygen connected.
The nurse assigned to the Hospice Ward was identified as Beth Holtz, 53. She now faces one count of intentionally abusing a patient in connection with the incident.
According to the complaint filed by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department and Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, Holtz allegedly deprived the patient of air and caused him great bodily harm.
Nurse Allegedly Said Patient Was Dying
Police say Holtz told investigators that she found the patient weak and believed he was dying.
She said the man appeared to be struggling and described him as “staring off” while attempting to sit on the edge of his bed. According to the complaint, Holtz told police she had seen similar behavior in people who were close to death.
“I thought that he was gonna die at any moment … the way he was looking and reaching and staring off and breathing,” Holtz told police, according to the complaint.
She initially placed the patient’s oxygen back on him. But investigators allege that Holtz later removed the oxygen supply while sitting with him.
Holtz reportedly told the man, “It is ok to go,” referring to dying.
The nurse told police that her intention was not to hasten the patient’s death. Instead, she claimed she believed he was already dying and was restless.
Patient Left Without Oxygen for 90 Minutes
According to investigators, the patient remained without oxygen from approximately 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. During that period, a nursing assistant allegedly asked Holtz whether the patient’s oxygen should be put back on.
“No, he’s so close,” Holtz allegedly responded.
The situation reportedly changed when another nurse later discovered the patient in serious distress. The patient was allegedly found with black-and-blue lips, difficulty breathing and reaching into the air.
When oxygen was restored, authorities say the man’s condition improved. The complaint states that the patient began breathing normally and his color returned after the oxygen was put back on.
Holtz later acknowledged to investigators that she “should have known better,” particularly because the patient had been on oxygen for a long time.
Disturbing Comments Become Part of Investigation
Investigators also questioned Holtz about comments she allegedly made concerning the patient’s death.
According to the complaint, Holtz admitted telling a nursing aide, “It’s easier to do death paperwork than falls paperwork.”
She denied making another alleged statement: “I was hoping he would die during my shift.”
Holtz reportedly told police that she was hoping the patient would die “for his own sake” because he was struggling, rather than because she wanted to avoid work.
She also allegedly explained that she had made the death-paperwork comment because she had a large amount of paperwork to complete and it was near the end of her shift.
When questioned about the comment, Holtz reportedly described it as being “goofy.”
During a later polygraph examination, however, investigators say Holtz confessed that part of her wanted the patient to die sooner so he could be at peace.
The complaint says she acknowledged she had never done anything like this before and described it as a one-time mistake.
Patient Died Six Days Later
The patient ultimately died on Aug. 23, 2025, six days after the alleged oxygen-removal incident. The criminal complaint alleges that Holtz intentionally abused the patient and caused him great bodily harm by depriving him of air.
Holtz could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted. The allegations remain accusations, and a criminal charge is not itself proof of guilt. The case will proceed through the legal system, where prosecutors will have to prove the allegations against Holtz beyond a reasonable doubt.
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