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Scalding death ruled a murder

By AP/KWMU

St. Louis, MO – St. Louis County's Medical Examiner says the scalding death in March of a mentally retarded man at a state-run center was murder.

Rutherford Wallace, 35, died six days after he was scalded during a bath given by a worker at Northwest Habilitation Center near Overland.

Medical examiner Mary Case's finding will be turned over to St. Louis County prosecutor Bob McCulloch who will decide whether to file criminal charges.

In June, Wallace's mother sued the state and two workers over the death of her son.

A Massachusetts company is also accused in that suit of making a faulty water valve.

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