An Austin, Texas, assisted residing residence and two of its staff had been indicted this week for allegedly neglecting a 73-year-old disabled lady — who ultimately froze to dying.
Cynthia Pierce was left inside an unheated room at Harvest Renaissance on Feb. 17, 2021, as historic Winter Storm Uri handed by means of the area.
The home windows within the room had additionally been left vast open, prosecutors stated.
The enterprise and two staffers — Govt Director Mendi Ramsay and Wellness Director Rochelle Alvarado — had been charged with harm to an aged particular person.
Workers on the facility “did not promptly transfer and transport” Pierce to a hotter space, based on the indictment.
She was rushed to the hospital with a physique temperature of 94 levels, and later died of hypothermia.
The staffers are additionally accused of failing to inform the Texas Well being and Human Companies Fee they misplaced energy through the storm.
“The employees’s conduct was licensed by high-level managerial brokers, particularly Mendi Ramsay or Rochelle Alvarado, performing on behalf of Harvest Renaissance-Austin, LLC, throughout the scope of their official duties,” based on an announcement from the district lawyer’s workplace.
Pierce’s daughter, Holly Ferguson, alleged Harvest misrepresented themselves as a licensed care facility, and that their gross negligence led to the lady’s dying.
“My Mother was left alone and freezing, and it shouldn’t have occurred,” Ferguson stated. “We hope this prison case will pressure Harvest to take accountability for his or her failings and make everlasting modifications in order that one thing like this by no means occurs once more.”
An lawyer for Ramsay and Alvarado argued they weren’t at fault for Pierce’s dying and insisted “no crime was dedicated,” based on KXAN.
Pierce’s family members have additionally filed a civil lawsuit towards the assisted residing facility.
