2 charged in death of palsy patient

Wednesday, Aug. 4, 1999 | 10:48 a.m.

Two Las Vegas residents have been charged with the killing of a 49-year-old cerebral palsy patient, nearly eight months after her death.

The Criminal Apprehension Team arrested Wilman Oslund, 67, and his 30-year-old girlfriend, Sherry Kahalehoe, Monday. They are being held in the Clark County Detention Center on charges of murder, kidnapping, accessory to commit murder and conspiracy to kidnap.

On Dec. 15, 1998, Oslund called the Clark County coroner's office to report that his sister-in-law, 49-year-old Sheila Manantan, had died. Oslund had been caring for Manantan, who was mentally challenged and had cerebral palsy, since his wife, Manantan's sister, died in November 1997.

The coroner's office determined that Manantan died as the result of blunt force trauma to her body. Oslund claimed Manantan's death and bruises found on Manantan's body were the result of frequent falls, Sgt. Rocky Alby said.

But coroner's tests and interviews with medical personnel suggested otherwise, Alby said.

"He was claiming that she fell a lot, so we went back to some of the medical people ... and documented that no, she didn't," he said.

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