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Phoenix police identify patient that died at hospital after visit from "suspicious" man

Posted at 10:19 AM, Sep 03, 2019
and last updated 2019-09-03 21:41:40-04

PHOENIX — Phoenix police have identified a patient that died Friday at HonorHealth Deer Valley Medical Center under suspicious circumstances.

Officers were dispatched to the hospital near 27th Avenue and Beardsley Road around 3:10 p.m. after someone called to say a man had died after a "suspicious person" had visited a patient's room.

When officers spoke with hospital staff, workers told them the man told staff he was there to visit the victim and left a short time later.

Police say moments after the man left, nurses checked on the victim and found him in distress, foaming from the mouth and unresponsive. Hospital workers performed emergency lifesaving actions, but the victim did not survive.

The patient has been identified as 41-year-old Brandon Werner.

Authorities say the actual cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner.

The man seen leaving the victim's room was described as an adult male, wearing a white cap, blue jeans, and a t-shirt with multiple colors.

Phoenix police also confirmed there was no surveillance video from inside Werner’s room. They say there no restrictions as to who was allowed in to see Werner during his hospital stay.

A spokesperson for HonorHealth stated that officials would be unable to comment due to the active police investigation.

A fundraiser has been created to help with Werner's family with expenses. If you would like to donate, please visit their Facebook page.

Anyone with information concerning this incident is encouraged to contact the Phoenix Police Department at 602-262-6151 or if they wish to remain anonymous, they can contact Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS or 480-TESTIGO for Spanish.

This is a developing story. Stay with ABC15 News and abc15.com for updates.