Doctor Connected to Golfer Erica Blasberg's Death Pleads Guilty to Obstruction
Thomas Hess sentenced to probation after guilty plea to obstruction of justice.
Dec. 1, 2010— -- The doctor who discovered the body of LPGA golfer Erica Blasberg after she committed suicide has pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice.
Dr. Thomas Hess entered a guilty plea to a misdemeanor charge of resisting a public officer. He appeared in a Henderson, Nev., municipal court this morning.
He was sentenced to one year of probation and 40 hours of community service at Volunteers of Medicine of Southern Nevada, as well as anger management counseling.
He is believed to be the last person to have seen Blasberg alive. The 25-year-old pro golfer was found dead in her Henderson home, outside Las Vegas, on May 9, 2010.
In August, the Clark County coroner's office ruled her death a suicide due to asphyxia, coupled with the presence of toxic levels of prescription medication in her system, including prescription headache, cough, pain and anti-anxiety medications.
Though no foul play was suspected in Blasberg's death, officials issued an arrest warrant for Hess on obstruction of justice charges on August 24. Hess was accused of removing items, including medication and a suicide note, from the scene before police officers arrived.
Erica's father Mel told KTNV, ABC's Las Vegas affiliate, that the doctor was partly responsible for Erica's death.
"I felt that the verdict was insignificant," Mel Blasberg said outside the courtroom. "I think the way Dr. Hess acted and didn't act is partly responsible for Erica's death. But I was looking for some remorse."
"Understand that, when you wear that white coat, like he does, you have a responsibility that probably goes beyond our own," Mel Blasberg said. "And he failed. He failed the white coat and he failed the oath. He failed everything that he believes in."
In August, Mel expressed his suspicions about Hess.
"He's central to Erica's death in terms of being there before she died, and their relationship clearly went beyond doctor-patient," Mel told ABC News.
Erica's father stopped short of saying Hess, who is still practicing family medicine in Las Vegas, was responsible for his daughter's death. But he said he did believe Hess was being less than forthcoming about what happened the weekend of Erica's death because of his "inapporopriate relationship" with her.
