Nov 5, 2012 | Assault and Battery, Nursing Home Abuse, Personal Injury, Uncategorized, Wrongful Death
A Rock Hill elderly woman was killed in November 2011, when her assisted living care nurse smothered the victim to death. The employee’s actions were discovered when she attempted to steal and cash checks from the victim’s banking account.
The 30-year-old former assisted living employee was charged with murder, and sentenced to life in prison this past Thursday. The 82-year-old victim was found dead in her shower at the Oak Bridge Terrace Assisted Residences, on the campus of Park Pointe Village Assisted Living facility in Rock Hill, SC. It was reported by the woman’s family that the body of the deceased was “badly bruised.”
An investigation discovered that the Rock Hill Police had been at the Park Pointe Village the day before the victim’s death, when it was reported that the victim’s checkbook had been stolen.The victim told the Rock Hill police that four checks had been written to the defendant that did not match her signature, totaling to $1,280. The checks were written between October 12 and November 1 of 2011.
The defendant had access to all of the assisted living residents, but was not at work at the time of the complaint, and was since suspended from her job. Later, it was discovered that the defendant had gotten another employee to let her into the facility when she murdered the victim. The defendant reportedly put a shower cap of the victim’s head, put her into the shower while running, and suffocated her.
The body was found around 6:30 a.m., when CPR was attempted, but sadly failed.
The victim’s family is suing the assisted living home for the wrongful death of their loved one.
Elder abuse is a crime that is on the rise due to the victim’s vulnerability. If you suspect something is not quite right, call us and we will help you find out if you are worried about nothing or if something really is wrong. If your loved one has already been injured or worse, call us immediately. Mr. Reeves stands ready to bring his medical background and years of nursing home litigation experience to your family. First, we want answers. And then, we want justice. Call the law offices of Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower today at 704-499-9000 or 877-374-5999 toll-free.
Sep 5, 2012 | Nursing Home Abuse, Personal Injury, Uncategorized, Wrongful Death
The estate of a woman killed last year at a Rock Hill Assisted living home is suing the facility and several of its employees, alleging that the crime could have been prevented. Pauline Cook, 82, was found dead in her shower the day after she reported to staff members of the home and police that someone had been forging her checks.
Braquette Walton, a 30-year-old nurse’s assistant who eventually confessed to the crime, was arrested in connection with the killing. Walton was charged with murder, abuse and neglect of a vulnerable adult resulting in death, burglary and forgery.
Other employees being implicated in connection with the crime allegedly knew of Cook’s suspicions of the forgery and took no immediate actions to prevent the criminal conduct. At the time of the killing Walton was not scheduled to work, and therefore, had no authorization and was not permitted to be on the premises of the facility. Nevertheless, Walton managed to bypass several security measures, wrongfully enter the home, and sneak into the victim’s room unnoticed. There, a violent struggle ensued and Walton ultimately smothered the woman death. Cook’s lifeless body was then dragged to the shower in an attempt to make it appear as though she accidentally fell while bathing.
Cook’s estate is seeking compensation and punitive damages for wrongful death, negligence and wonton and reckless misconduct. Walton is being held at Moss Justice Center in York and faces 30 years to life in prison for the murder charge alone.
South Carolina Attorneys: Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower, LLP
If the unthinkable happens in your life, call the experienced wrongful death attorneys of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower LLP. Our seasoned litigators have over 75 years combined trial experience. Our team of personal injury attorneys include former insurance defense lawyers, a former Registered Nurse (RN), and former criminal prosecutor. We can investigate all aspects of a serious accident and hold all parties accountable for your loss. Call us today and speak directly with one of our lawyers at 704-499-9000 or 877-374-5999 toll free. We have offices in Charlotte and throughout South Carolina. We would be honored to have an opportunity to help you and your family get through this most difficult time in your lives.
Jul 9, 2012 | Nursing Home Abuse, Uncategorized
It is a scary prospect putting one’s loved ones in a nursing home, trusting their care to others. It is even worse when the staff you trust could be abusing him or her. How would you know? You can’t always be there with them. Listed below, for your convenience and comfort, are the most common signs of nursing home neglect.
Signs of Physical Abuse
- Unexplained injuries
- Frequent falls
- Wounds, cuts, or bruises – open or undressed
- Improper dosing or dispensing of medication
- Unreasonable or forceful restraint – either chemical restraint or physical restraint
- Deprivation of food and water
- Malnourishment
- Dehydration
- and in the extreme actual assault or rape
Signs of Emotional, Mental, or Verbal Abuse
- Intimidation by Staff
- Changes in Behavior
- Changes in Personality
- Unusual behavior
- Becoming Withdrawn or Uncommunicative
- Agitation
- Becoming Newly Overemotional
- Threatening, humiliating, insulting, or ignoring friends and family
Signs of Neglect
- Bed sores (decubitus ulcers or pressure ulcers)
- Infections
- Failure to provide emergency care
- Poor hygiene – when staff refuses to help with personal hygiene
- Safety and health hazards that staff refuse to solve
- Poor sanitary conditions in room
- Poor access to medical services
- Disregard of necessities beyond food or water
- Eloping or Wandering
Nursing Home Negligence Attorneys of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower
If you expect someone you love has been injured or died due to nursing home neglect, contact the skilled nursing home attorneys at Reeves, Aiken & Hightower. An experienced attorney can ensure that you and your loved ones get what you deserve from a negligent nursing facility. Call us today at 877-374-5999, or contact us here, for a private consultation.
