THE WOODLANDS, Texas — Montgomery County deputies have arrested 41-year-old Robert Pinon Shrader, a former patient care director of the Memorial Hermann Health System’s The Woodlands campus, on charges of invasive video recording.
The arrest followed the discovery of hidden cameras within the hospital’s HVAC system, leading to serious concerns about privacy and security.
Memorial Hermann Engineers Discover Hidden Cameras
The investigation began on August 21, when engineers scheduled to service the HVAC system at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands hospital found a wireless camera concealed in the ceiling tiles of a unisex bathroom in the West Tower, reports KHOU. This bathroom is accessible to the public, raising alarms about potential breaches of privacy for both hospital staff and visitors.
Upon discovery, hospital security reviewed the camera’s SD card and found footage that allegedly showed Shrader installing the device. Additionally, the camera captured multiple individuals, including hospital staff, in various states of undress.
Further searches in Shrader’s office revealed a second SD card and an unopened camera, indicating a possible pattern of behavior.
Related Article: Maryland Pharmacist Accused of Decade-Long Cyber-Voyeurism Campaign at UMMC
The situation escalated on August 25 when a third camera was found in a single stall bathroom on the third floor of the West Tower. Over 308 videos and images were recovered, depicting numerous individuals using the bathroom.
Shrader, who had no prior criminal record, was arrested at his home on a Wednesday morning. He faces seven charges of invasive video recording and has been released on a $35,000 bond. Memorial Hermann Health System has terminated his employment, reports Fox4.
Prior to his employment at Memorial Hermann, Shrader was a teacher for Cypress-Fairbanks ISD High School, resigning in 2011 to return to school, reports ABC13. The district confirmed his departure was voluntary, unrelated to this incident.
Hospital and Community Response
In response to the incident, Memorial Hermann released a statement expressing shock and outrage at Shrader’s actions. The hospital emphasized its commitment to ensuring the safety and privacy of everyone at their facilities, stating:
“We are shocked, deeply upset and offended by this individual’s illegal and reprehensible behavior, which not only has affected our workforce, patients and the communities we serve at our Woodlands Campus but also violated the trust placed in him and failed us all.”
The hospital has conducted security sweeps across its Woodlands Campus and is collaborating with law enforcement to develop a broader response plan. They assured that they will continue to cooperate fully with the investigation and provide support to those affected.
As the investigation unfolds, more information regarding the victims, including minors, is expected to be released. Authorities urge anyone who believes they may be affected to contact the provided email address with their information.
