Wisconsin Nurse Accused of Amputating Foot of Dying Patient to Put on Display at Family’s Taxidermy Shop

Wisconsin is at the center of attention this week as a nurse is being accused of amputating a foot from a dying patient to display at her family’s taxidermy shop.

Mary K. Brown, 38, is facing several charges after she believed she got away with a horrendous crime. She allegedly told co-workers at the Spring Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center that she wanted to display the foot alongside a sign reading, “Wear your boots, kids.”

The Washington Post has obtained the arrest affidavit where Brown admitted to amputating the foot of a 62-year-old man.

The victim has been at the center since March after a steep fall, and has “severely frostbitten feet,” according to People. Employees at the center described the victim’s feet as “black like a mummy.” His health has continued to deteriorate since being at the health center.

Brown has been charged with physical abuse of an elder person and mayhem.

The affidavit reads, “Brown had no doctor’s order to conduct an amputation. She stated that she did not have any authorization to remove VICTIM’s foot.  Brown did not have VICTIM’s permission to amputate his foot.”

“Administrators of the nursing home agreed that it was outside of the scope of Brown’s practice to conduct such a procedure and a doctor’s order was necessary prior to any amputation.”

Using only scissors and gauze to do the procedure, two other nurses witnessed the amputation, and both recollected different feelings. One said the patient felt it all, while another said, “it was not a very good amputation.”

Brown then placed the foot in a red biohazard bag and tossed it in the freezer but then told another nurse to take it out so she could “take it home and preserve it.”

Days later, the victim died. Brown is scheduled to make an appearance in court on Dec. 6.