LEBANON, Ohio -- Officials in a southwest Ohio county have requested an independent review of 911 operations after an internal report showed a dispatcher was likely asleep before answering a call about the drowning of a woman in a bathtub.
Sarah Widmer, 24, died in her home near Maineville on Aug. 11, 2008. Her husband, Ryan Widmer, faces a March retrial in her death after his murder conviction was thrown out due to juror misconduct.
The Warren County dispatcher "sounded as if he came out of a sound sleep" and failed to offer Ryan Widmer CPR instructions when he made the 911 call, according to an administrative investigation.
The report says response to the emergency would not have been different if the dispatcher had been more alert. It does not recommend discipline.
County Administrator Dave Gully said he received the report Tuesday, and that county commissioners have asked for an independent review of the emergency communications department.
He would not comment on whether disciplinary actions would be taken against the dispatcher, who testified at Widmer's trial.
Other workers say the dispatcher had slept on duty during previous occasions and earlier that night.
During the Widmer call, the dispatcher had trouble understanding Widmer, asks if he is the victim's mother and pauses so long that Widmer asked if he was still on the line, the report says.
In a statement, Widmer's lawyers called information in the report unfortunate.
"This brings to light just one of the many errors committed by the first responders," said Jay Clark and Lindsey Gutierrez.
Warren County Prosecutor's Office spokesman Matt Nolan said it should not impact the case.
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