ASANTE Drug Diversion Case Arrest -06/13/24

On June 13, at about 12:30PM the Medford Police Department (MPD) arrested 36-year-old Dani Marie Schofield after a lengthy investigation into drug diversion allegations that affected patient health at Asante Rogue Regional Hospital in Medford. This arrest was made in the 5000-block of Rogue River Drive. 

This seven-month-long police investigation began after Asante officials contacted MPD in early December 2023. Asante had become concerned with a rising number of central line infection cases in patients while in their care. After an internal investigation, including consultation with outside medical experts, Asante provided MPD with information that all of the identified cases were isolated to patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and occurred within a specific date range. Based on records and interviews, investigators were able to determine that ICU nurse Schofield had access to each of these victims. There was concern that Schofield had been diverting patients’ liquid fentanyl for her personal use and then replacing it with tap water, causing serious infections. Schofield left Asante in July 2023.

MPD Investigators made contact with Schofield early on in this investigation. Investigators also spent months pouring through volumes of hospital records and interviewed nearly 100 people in this case to include doctors, nurses, patients and many of those affected. 

Due to the magnitude of the case and its impact on victims, MPD dedicated multiple full-time detectives to the investigation. Once finalized, MPD provided their investigation to the Jackson County District Attorney’s office for review. 

On June 12, 2024 the District Attorney’s office convened a Grand Jury to review this case. The Grand Jury issued a true bill to indict Schofield on 44 counts of Assault in the 2nd Degree, under Measure 11.  

The multiple Assault in the 2^nd Degree charges result from the evidence that indicates that Schofield’s actions resulted in injury to impacted patients. A person commits Assault in the 2^nd Degree if the person intentionally or knowingly causes serious physical injury to another. The 44 charges reflect the total amount of patients that this investigation revealed to have been affected by Schofield’s criminal actions. Through the investigation, detectives were able to narrow the dates of those known infections to between July 2022 and July 2023, and has shown that these infections occurred only in the ICU. 

MPD recognizes that there has been substantial public interest surrounding this case. After review of hospital records, patient records and pathology reports, MPD consulted with multiple medical experts, who each agreed that questionable deaths associated with this case could not be directly attributed to the infections. 

Our hearts go out to the victims and their families who have been impacted by this case. 

At this time, this investigation is completed, and this will be our last update on the matter. We’d like to direct questions regarding the charging and prosecution of Schofield to the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office.

There will be an in-person press conference held at the Medford Police Department, 219 S. Ivy Street at 3:30PM on Thursday, June 13^th. During this press conference we will provide additional information regarding this case. Please do not reach out for additional information or interviews prior to this Press Conference as we will be unable to assist you until then.