AMHERST, N.Y. (WBEN) - Four employees at the Brompton Heights assisted living facility were arrested for abandoning the care of a vulnerable elderly resident in December of 2017, according to the New York State Attorney General's office.
That resident, 87, later walked out of the building wearing only her nightgown and was missing for hours until she was later found in freezing temperatures. She was found nearly unconscious and suffering from hypothermia, bruising, and frostbite.
Personal care assistants George Stokes, LaQuanda Johnson, and Caprice Newbern were arrested and arraigned in Amherst Town Court on June 12. Medical technician Stephanie Shinault was arrested on June 27 and also arraigned in Amherst Town Court.
Stokes was accused of sleeping for more than four hours during the overnight shift when the elderly woman went missing. Because Stokes was asleep, the resident hall was unattended, allowing the woman to leave through an emergency exit.
The other defendants were at a nurse's station that monitored the wing of the building where the woman lived. Attorney General Letitia James said the three ignored the alarms that were set off when the woman wandered through the exit doors. They then took their breaks together and left the building together, all while knowing that Stokes was asleep.
"We will never tolerate neglectful behavior that puts our most vulnerable individuals in harm's way," James said in a statement. "New Yorkers deserve every assurance that their loved ones are safe in the nursing homes they entrust with their care. Anything less is unconscionable, and my office will continue to hold those responsible accountable for their egregious actions."
All four were charged with felony Endangering the Welfare of a Vulnerable Elderly Person in the second degree and a misdemeanor charge. Each of them faces up to four years in prison if convicted of the felony charge.
Brompton Heights is located at 275 Brompton Road in Williamsville.
Adam Croglia of the Buffalo public relations agency Mower released the following statement related to Brompton Heights
"Following a thorough investigation of the December 2017 incident, it was determined the former employees in question had violated multiple organizational policies – and the former employees were promptly terminated as a result."
Erie County Senior Services Commissioner David Shenk lauded James for charging the four with the crimes.
"Seniors are some of our most vulnerable section of our population," Shenk said. "They've paid taxes their entire life. They've worked and raised us and are the patriarchs and matriarchs of society. They should be held with the highest regard and taken care of and protected. It's such a shame these four employees were doing what they were doing - not their job - and (not) taking care of these people when they should have been."
