Turn To Tara: Veterans calls for probe of VA neglect

<p>There are renewed calls for answers after a News 12 probe last May revealed that the body of a decorated war hero was neglected and left to decompose at a local VA.</p>

News 12 Staff

Feb 20, 2018, 10:31 PM

Updated 2,249 days ago

Share:

There are renewed calls for answers after a News 12 probe last May revealed that the body of a decorated war hero was neglected and left to decompose at a local VA.
Korean War veteran Santos Colon, of Newburgh, died back on Nov. 2,, but his body was left to rot for four months and reportedly started to liquefy before anyone even noticed him at the VA in Montrose.
Westchester veterans groups say they have waited patiently for an explanation, but their patience has run out.
Ron Tocci, the commissioner of Westchester County Veterans Agency, says that the VA promised to investigate the shameful oversight. The nearly dozen local veterans groups that make up the Westchester County Service Committee stayed silent, waiting for answers that still haven’t arrived 10 months later.

The groups held a meeting three days ago and decided to pen a sharply worded letter to the U.S. secretary of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C. describing “one of the most shameful examples of disrespect toward a veteran by a VA facility.“

News 12’s repeated calls to the inspector general for Veterans Affairs have gone unanswered.

 


More from News 12
1:40
Preliminary report uncovers over 100 potential unmarked burials at historic Rye cemetery

Preliminary report uncovers over 100 potential unmarked burials at historic Rye cemetery

1:34
Dry morning for Friday throughout the Hudson Valley before evening showers roll in

Dry morning for Friday throughout the Hudson Valley before evening showers roll in

Vote 2024: Ask your questions for Congressional District 16 Democratic candidates

Vote 2024: Ask your questions for Congressional District 16 Democratic candidates

0:40
Authorities: Mahopac man captured sexually explicit images of children with hidden camera

Authorities: Mahopac man captured sexually explicit images of children with hidden camera

0:12
Police: Woman hurt in Yonkers stabbing

Police: Woman hurt in Yonkers stabbing

0:43
City of Yonkers to run Nepperhan Community Center following financial mismanagement report

City of Yonkers to run Nepperhan Community Center following financial mismanagement report

Is your mom awesome? Hudson Valley tell us why your Mom Rocks!

Is your mom awesome? Hudson Valley tell us why your Mom Rocks!

0:54
Guide: How to host Passover on a budget

Guide: How to host Passover on a budget

0:56
Retail prevention plan to include harsher penalties, additional patrols

Retail prevention plan to include harsher penalties, additional patrols

1:47
'Evening in Good Taste' helps feed hungry in Westchester County

'Evening in Good Taste' helps feed hungry in Westchester County

0:30
Hearing for New City stabbing suspect rescheduled for next week

Hearing for New City stabbing suspect rescheduled for next week

0:53
Carmel School District closes in on budget agreement following months of debates

Carmel School District closes in on budget agreement following months of debates

0:44
Greenburgh's ex-Parks and Recreation commissioner honored with renaming of multipurpose center

Greenburgh's ex-Parks and Recreation commissioner honored with renaming of multipurpose center

0:37
Virginia man was sentenced to 20 years to life in fatal 2021 shooting of New Rochelle cab driver

Virginia man was sentenced to 20 years to life in fatal 2021 shooting of New Rochelle cab driver

0:34
Westchester DA: Yonkers man sentenced 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison for fatal June 2023 hit-and-run

Westchester DA: Yonkers man sentenced 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison for fatal June 2023 hit-and-run

0:28
White Plains police: Teenager arrested in connection to stabbing of 17-year-old outside gas station

White Plains police: Teenager arrested in connection to stabbing of 17-year-old outside gas station

1:54
Middletown couple fight through lawsuits, zoning problems to open New Paltz cannabis dispensary

Middletown couple fight through lawsuits, zoning problems to open New Paltz cannabis dispensary

0:41
State budget proposal would consolidate Medicaid program used in hiring home health aide

State budget proposal would consolidate Medicaid program used in hiring home health aide

1:35
Double Up Food Bucks program comes to Yonkers market

Double Up Food Bucks program comes to Yonkers market