From The Tribune staff reports
BIRMINGHAM — The Birmingham Police Department (BPD) has launched a sexual assault investigation surrounding an employee of Grandview Hospital.
Cornell Richards
According to the BPD, in September 2022, Special Victims Unit (SVU) detectives learned that a sexual assault had reportedly occurred at Grandview Hospital. The suspect in the incident, Cornell Richards, 39, of Birmingham, was described as an employee of Grandview Hospital.
“Since then, SVU detectives have learned of at least two additional victims who alleged they were sexually assaulted at Grandview Hospital by the same employee,” Officer Truman Fitzgerald stated. “Birmingham Police detectives presented case information to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office.”
The following five warrants were issued on Richards: rape first degree, two counts of sodomy first degree, and two counts of sexual abuse first degree.
Richards was arrested by the BPD and is being held at the Jefferson County Jail with no bond.
“At the time of the alleged assaults, Cornell Richards was an employee of Grandview Hospital,” Fitzgerald stated. “We believe he was employed in a capacity that allowed him to care for patients. Sadly, we believe there are additional victims out there.”
BPD encourages anyone who may have been victimized by Cornell Richards to call Special Victims Unit detectives directly at (205) 297-8413 or know there is an additional resource in the One Place Family Justice Center (One Place). One Place Family Justice Center has two BPD SVU detectives on site; One Place staff can be reached at (205) 453-7261.
