New information in the case of 77-year-old man who died after wandering away from his nursing home last week seems to indicate that the facility waited at least an hour before notifying police of the man’s disappearance.
Police have said in a press release that the elder man, who had dementia, was reported missing from the facility at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 14. However, the disappearance was actually reported to police at 8:37 p.m. An officer responded to the scene at 8:51 p.m. and immediately commenced a search that involved other officers, police said.
Additionally, the county coroner has said an investigation revealed that the elderly man wandered off at 3 p.m. If this is the case, the facility waited five and a half hours before notifying police. The coroner also stated that he died of hypothermia, likely several hours after he went missing. For more, read the story.
Robert W. Carter, Jr. is a Virginia attorney whose law practice is dedicated to protecting the rights of the victims of nursing home and assisted living neglect and abuse in Richmond, Roanoke, Norfolk, Lynchburg, Danville, Charlottesville, and across Virginia.
