911 Operator Charged with Involuntary Manslaughter After Refusing to Send Ambulance

Pennsylvania emergency 911 operator Leon “Lee” Price, 50, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter of Diania Kronk, 54, last week. The dispatcher refused to send an ambulance to Kronk’s residence in Waynesburg back in July of 2020 after her daughter, Kelly Titchenell, 38, dialed 911 to report her mother’s need for medical attention.

Titchenell reportedly requested an ambulance while driving to Kronk’s house from her own in Mather. 

While on the phone, Price repeatedly asked Titchenell if her mother was “willing to go” to the hospital. This happened a few times and Titchenell reassured him, knowing if they didn’t send an ambulance Kronk would die. 

Price initially agreed to sending an ambulance to the residence and instructed Titchenell to call him back after she spoke with her mother. No ambulance ever arrived at the scene. 

When Titchenell reached Kronk’s house, she found her mother naked on the front porch speaking incoherently. Titchenell stayed with her until she died the following day of internal bleeding.

Price was arraigned on June 29, and has since been released from jail on bail.