Woman appears in court for manslaughter and murder, trial scheduled for September

YAKIMA, Wash. – A woman currently facing murder and manslaughter charges appeared in court today.

Darlina Ann Chilson, 51, appeared in court today for a hearing on charges of second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter.

According to court documents, she is accused of neglecting a 16-year-old girl in her care after hospitalizing her in March 2016 for a severe lung infection, significant skin breakdown, severe malnutrition and ulcers. It was also stated that she had stage three to four pressure ulcers, considered the worst possible ulcers on the body.

The teenager weighed 45 pounds.

Doctors stated that Chilson left the hospital unexpectedly immediately after being admitted and was unavailable to provide medical information or consent to the victim's treatment.

The 16-year-old died on May 2, 2016. Doctors said the cause of death was neglect before admission.

The documents show that Chilson had been caring for her since 2001 and was granted custody in 2014.

Chilson was arrested in 2019 after a warrant was issued for her arrest. She later pleaded not guilty.

Since then, Chilson's nursing license has been revoked.

Chilson is currently under electronic monitoring at home and another hearing is scheduled for August 29.

The trial is currently scheduled for September 23.