SUMTER, S.C. — The death of a Prisma Health Tuomey hospital employee who was assaulted while on the job has now been ruled a homicide.
The Sumter County Coroner's office released new information this week on the death of 40-year-old Kevin Robinson, who worked as a mental health technician. The listed cause of death is now physiological stress associated with physical alteration in the setting of cardiomegaly (enlarged heart) and obesity.
The matter of death was determined to be a homicide. The autopsy was performed at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston in June.
The woman accused of attacking Robinson was originally charged with assault and battery second degree but on Tuesday, her charge was upgraded to involuntary manslaughter.
Sumter Police say on May 27, Robinson was working at the hospital when a female patient began to fight with security to avoid being restrained. Other hospital staff, including Robinson, attempted to help detain the woman.
Officers say the woman eventually struck Robinson in the groin area. The report says he then became sick and a short time later stopped breathing and had no pulse. Hospital staff gave Robinson CPR and put him into care there at the hospital. Several days later, however, he died.
he Sumter Police Department and the Sumter County Coroner's Office continue to investigate.
Prisma Health said Robinson had worked at the Sumter hospital for 11 years and was well-loved by his co-workers.