Madeline Buchek joined the Marines during World War II and was a vibrant, stylish and witty woman.

Frank Rutkowsky Sr. served his country in the Army and was a respectful, independent man who took pride in his appearance.

Neither deserved to be demeaned by two Westmoreland Hospital nurses and have their privacy shattered, their families said Friday in a Westmoreland County courtroom.

The families spoke during a sentencing hearing for Peter Castellano, 37, of Pittsburgh’s Fineview neighborhood and Melissa Tompkins, 36, of Baldwin. Each admitted to taking and sharing photos and recordings of Westmoreland Hospital patients without their permission.

“He did not deserve to get what he got from these two,” said Debra Topinka, Rutkowsky’s daughter, calling each nurse a “predator under the guise of a professional.”

“They have proven they cannot be trusted with something as sacred as human life,” said Janelle Snyder, Buchek’s niece.

Castellano and Tompkins each were sentenced Friday to 30 days to one year in the Westmoreland County Prison. In some of the photos they took and shared, patients were naked inside their hospital rooms, while others were partially clothed, according to Greensburg police.

Independence Health System fired Castellano and Tompkins after an employee reported their actions.

Some videos showed the suspects antagonizing patients, including one instance in which a patient was crying, police said.

The pair pleaded guilty Friday to misdemeanor counts of abuse of a care-dependent person. The plea agreement called for felony counts of intercepted communications to be dismissed. Assistant District Attorney Katie Ranker said the deal was struck to ensure Castellano and Tompkins served jail time, something that was unlikely had they been convicted at trial according to sentencing guidelines.

“I believe that these were merely acts of cruelty,” Ranker said.

Topinka and Snyder testified of the harm inflicted on their loved ones in June 2024. They said they believed the actions of Castellano and Tompkins contributed to their deaths. Rutkowsky’s family was grieving his Aug. 5, 2024, death at age 96 when they found out about the accusations against the nurses, Topinka testified.

“For some of us, the shock or sadness hasn’t lessened, and we’ve become victims by default,” she said.

Snyder recalled a time when her aunt became withdrawn and called one of her nurses a rat.

“Do you remember that? I do,” she said, looking at the pair.

Buchek died July 25, 2024, at 105.

Ranker read victim impact statements from three others involved in the case. They described an ongoing fear of health care professionals and settings. An estimated 10 patients were involved.

“These people are heroes. They don’t call it the Greatest Generation for nothing,” Judge Michael J. Stewart II said.

It was hard for him to understand why two professionals would breach the trust of patients in need of care. To the victims and their families, he acknowledged that the sentence wouldn’t give them back time to properly grieve or restore their trust in health care workers.

“I find your actions beyond comprehension,” he told Castellano and Tompkins. “These people did nothing to deserve that, so I hope you carry that with you the rest of your life.”

Tompkins was permitted to report to the jail Oct. 20 to begin serving her sentence. Castellano was taken out of court in handcuffs. They were arrested in September after Greensburg police learned of a group text message thread among two nurses and two techs that indicated the suspects improperly treated patients.

The patients were not aware of the photos or recordings and did not give consent, according to court papers. The two techs weren’t charged.

Castellano and Tompkins have had their licenses as registered nurses suspended, according to state records. Castellano’s license was issued in 2022, and Tompkins’ was issued under the last name Marsh in 2020.

Tompkins turned to face those seated in the courtroom.

“I can’t even — I have no words. I’m very sorry,” she said.

Castellano directed his comments to Stewart.

“I apologize for my actions,” he said. “I could never have imagined how much harm I was able to cause.”

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)