A nursing assistant who worked at several local hospitals and care centers has been charged with second-degree rape.
George Edward Tulus, 61, is accused of touching a patient inappropriately while she was at Kindred Hospital Seattle-Northgate. The victim was at Kindred Hospital from March to May 2018. She told investigators Tulus cared for her about six times during her stay and often visited with her and her husband.
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According to charging documents, Tulus touched her inappropriately while giving her a bed bath. When she told him to stop, she told investigators, he said, "Don't worry about it. This is how I do it. I'll make your stay miserable and I know where you live."
The victim did not report the incident until October 2018 when, according to charging documents, she told a nurse who was visiting her home and asked if nurses are required to wear gloves while giving a bath. Investigators interviewed the victim and the nurse she told about the incident.
According to investigators Tulus has been accused of sexual misconduct multiple times while employed as a health care worker.
The incidents are detailed in court documents:
In 2003, a housekeeper at a nursing home in Bothell said Tulus fondled her and tried to pull down her pants.
In 2004, a woman in alcohol detox in Everett at Providence Hospital's Pacific Campus reported Tulus got in the shower with her.
In 2005, at the Providence Colby Campus a patient said he touched her chest.
Both Providence incidents were reported to Everett police and investigated. Tulus denied any wrongdoing, and the Snohomish County Prosecutor declined to file charges, according to new court documents.
In 2011, a patient at Swedish in Edmonds said Tulus touched her and then said,
"I am sorry, I didn't mean to. Don't tell anyone. I'll never do this again to you, " according to court documents. The victim didn’t follow up with investigators at the time but did talk to detectives investigating the recent rape.
KIRO 7 contacted Kindred Hospital about the incident. Kindred Healthcare released a statement:
"Kindred takes these allegations seriously and we are committed to providing care and support for all our patients. We have been and will continue to cooperate fully with the authorities in this matter. The individual who has been charged is no longer employed by Kindred Healthcare." - Lerenda Johnson, hospital administrator
KIRO 7 sent Providence the charging documents which detail two incidents at their hospitals. Providence issued a statement:
"To protect the privacy of our patients, we cannot share information about any complaints they may have filed, nor can we comment on pending legal matters." - Casey Calamusa
The King County prosecutor sent the case to the Snohomish County prosecutor and expects second-degree rape charges to be filed for the incident at Swedish in Edmonds as well.
Swedish sent a statement:
"To protect the privacy of our patients, we cannot share information about any complaints they may have filed, nor can we comment on pending legal matters. Also, as a standard practice to protect our employees' and former employees' privacy, we don't publicly share whether someone was employed at Swedish." - Michael Connors.
Tulus is being held in the King County Jail with bail set at $100,000. He will be arraigned on the charges May 2.
Cox Media Group
