VETERANS

face. Bohn said when his father arrived at the hospital his scalp had "huge, pus-crusted wounds" and his adult diaper was saturated with urine and feces.

"They've been given a ton of evidence," Bohn said, claiming investigators would have confirmed abuse if they weren't "covering something up."

DHSs pokes woman Keili McEwen said the agency' s report will not be publicly released.

"Under the adult protective services for vulnerable adults statute, we believe that there is enough confidential information regarding the individuals who were investigated and the allegations that this is a statutorily protected report," she said. "The only way that we would release it is under court order."

"I can share with you that we did not substantiate any of the allegations," she said, adding that a copy of the report will be presented to the Comanche County district attorney as required by statute.

“This was a large-scale investigation into numerous allegations ,” Joe Dewey, advocate general at state DHS, said in a prepared statement released by the state Senate. “I am proud of the quality of work our team undertook in a few short weeks and that we were able to provide a final report for the families and residents of the Lawton Veterans Center.”

State Sen. Paul Rosino, chair of the Legislative Veterans Caucus, issued a statement Monday saying he felt the "independent investigation" by an outside agency was critical.

Sen. Rosino said long-term care facilities were stressed with workforce issues prior to COVID-19, and those issues have been exacerbated by the pandemic.

“Families are missing quality interactions that are vital to the mental and physical health of seniors in these facilities,” Rosino said. “I am grateful to the Advocate General and his team for digging into these allegations thoroughly and in a timely manner to give us a clear picture regarding the operations of the Lawton center.”

Joe Kin ts el, executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, said caring for veterans is the agency's "highest priority" and expressed gratitude to DHS for conducting the investigation.

However, the families of veterans who made the complaints were livid and vowed to continue fighting until problems get acknowledged and fixed.

"I can't believe it," Forbis said. "With all the pictures that I have? It's not right. I'm calling (Washington) D.C. I'm going higher."

Forbis and Fran Gibbs, the wife of another veteran who contends her husband was abused at t he center, both said they have also provided information to the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office, which is conducting a separate inquiry.

Alex Gerszewski, spokesman for Attorney General Mike Hunter, confirmed his agency has received complaints.

"We're looking into it like any other case that we receive complaints on," he said.