Police Use DNA Match to Identify and Arrest Man Accused of Sexually Assaulting Nursing Home Resident
In October 2019 a 48-year-old man entered the room of a California nursing home where several residents reside and proceeded to sexually assault one of the occupants—an 88-year-old-woman. The screams of the victim along with those of the other residents summoned staff members who came to investigate but were unable to prevent the man from escaping.
Sex crime unit investigators were able to collect male DNA evidence, and it was processed by the crime lab, then loaded into the federal DNA database known as the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). Through that system the suspect was identified.
The man was out on parole and is now being held for parole violation. According to police, the man is facing multiple felony counts that include burglary, felony sexual assault, and elder abuse charges.
The nursing home issued a statement expressing their gratitude to the authorities and indicated that because of the ongoing investigation and their concern for the resident and her family, they could not offer any additional comments.
Compliance Perspective
Failure to have a system in place to prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access to residents’ rooms and possibly sexually assaulting a resident may be a violation of residents’ rights to be free from abuse, neglect, and exploitation, and may also be considered provision of substandard quality of care, in violation of state and federal regulations.
Discussion Points:
- Review policies and procedures for screening those entering the facility and preventing unauthorized persons from gaining access to residents’ rooms.
- Train staff on the policies and procedures for preventing unauthorized persons from gaining access to residents’ rooms, and the importance of monitoring persons who are not known to be family and friends of residents to ensure that no abuse or exploitation of residents can occur. Remind staff to immediately report any concern they have about a suspicious person in the facility to their supervisor.
- Periodically audit to determine if the protocols that have been developed to screen and prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access to residents’ rooms are being practiced.
