Discovery of veteran's frozen body leads Ernst to call for review

Source: Des Moines Register

By Jennifer Jacobs

The death of a military veteran who may have suffered from post traumatic stress disorder has led Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst to request an examination of VA mental health care programs in central Iowa.

Richard Miles, 41, of Des Moines was found frozen in Water Works Park on Friday with no shoes or coat on. A dogwalker found his body, which appeared to have been there for some time, according to Des Moines police.

"While the law enforcement investigation into Richard's death is ongoing, it is tragic our nation lost a veteran who may not have received the mental health treatment he deserved," Ernst wrote in a letter Monday to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Ernst, a commander in the Iowa Army National Guard and an Iraq war veteran, in her letter asked the Veterans Affairs Department's acting inspector general to "conduct an immediate and thorough investigation into the VA Central Iowa Health Care System mental health care programs, treatment provided to veteran Richard Miles, and Mr. Miles' requests for mental health care and the subsequent treatment received."

Click here to read her full letter.

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