Detroit-area paramedic misled doctor about ‘dead’ woman, according authorities

In this undated family photo provided by Erica Lattimore through Fieger Law shows her daughter, Timesha Beauchamp with her brother Steven Thompson in Southfield, Mich. An attorney for the family of a young woman found breathing at a Detroit funeral home after being declared dead says the 20-year-old was in a body bag for some two hours before it was opened and she was discovered to be alive. Geoffrey Fieger, who was hired by Timesha Beauchamp's family, said Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020 the Southfield woman hospitalized in critical condition and is on a respirator. (Courtesy Erica Lattimore through Fieger Law via AP) In this undated family photo provided by Erica Lattimore through Fieger Law shows her daughter, Timesha Beauchamp with her brother Steven Thompson in Southfield, Mich. An attorney for the family of a young woman found breathing at a Detroit funeral home after being declared dead says the 20-year-old was in a body bag for some two hours before it was opened and she was discovered to be alive. Geoffrey Fieger, who was hired by Timesha Beauchamp's family, said Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020 the Southfield woman hospitalized in critical condition and is on a respirator. (Courtesy Erica Lattimore through Fieger Law via AP)

By ED WHITE / The Associated Press September 4, 2020 4 min read

A suburban Detroit paramedic repeatedly failed to recognize that a young woman declared dead was alive and misled a doctor by phone about her condition, according to state authorities who offered more details about the strange case.

The incident was bizarre because a funeral home discovered Timesha Beauchamp was alive when she gasped while her body was being prepared on Aug. 23.

The latest details are in a state license suspension filed last week against Michael Storms, a Southfield firefighter and paramedic, who was part of a four-member team responding to the home of the 20-year-old woman.

The documents obtained by The Associated Press are significant because no other agency has publicly offered many details about what happened to Beauchamp, who has cerebral palsy. Her family called 911 because of what appeared to be serious breathing problems.

The Southfield fire chief said the incident still remains under investigation by the city. Johnny Menifee said he shares the family’s “anguish,” but he has also insisted that his paramedics followed proper procedures and found “no signs of life.”