Md. Psychiatric Hospital Chief To Resign

BALTIMORE (AP) -- The chief executive of Maryland's maximum-security psychiatric hospital is stepping down.

Health officials announced Sheilah Davenport's resignation set for the end of this month in a memo to staff at the Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center last week.

The news comes after a recent report faulted employees for their behavior during their behavior during the strangulation of a patient there last year. El-Soudani El-Wahhabi has been charged with the strangulation death of fellow patient Susan Sachs and is awaiting trial. Davenport tells The Gazette that her decision was not influenced by Sach's death.

Susan Steinberg, director of forensic services for the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, will take over Davenport's responsibilities while a search is conducted.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)