Family and Attorneys Offer $2,000 Reward for Arrest in Sexual Assault of Resident of Assisted Living Center
Hoping it will help to ensure the arrest of the unknown man who sexually assaulted a 94-year old resident in a Georgia assisted living center, the family and attorneys of the woman are offering a $2,000 reward.
The incident occurred sometime during the night of September 4, 2018, and the police have not yet been able to identify a suspect. Police were called to the facility the next day after the woman told the nursing staff that an unknown male had touched her inappropriately during the previous night. Investigators interviewed both staff and residents at the facility and collected evidence of the assault that was sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s crime lab.
Fearful that the assailant would never be caught, and the case would be disregarded as a cold case, the resident’s son and her lawyers held a press conference to announce the reward for information that might lead to an arrest. The son also disclosed at the press conference that he was planning to file a lawsuit with the County’s State Court under what he called “numerous theories of law.”
According to the local police, the case is still open but inactive.
Compliance Perspective
Failure to provide adequate monitoring and supervision to prevent sexual assaults of residents may be considered immediate jeopardy and provision of sub-standard quality of care, in violation of state and federal regulations.
Discussion Points:
- Review policies and procedures regarding protection of residents from sexual assaults by staff members, other residents, or people entering the facility from the outside.
- Train staff on how to identify a possible sexual assault; preserving evidence in suspected incidences; and reporting any suspected staff members, residents with sexual behaviors, or suspicious incidents by others and immediately inform a supervisor or through the Hotline. Consider reviewing the placement of cameras, with monitoring of those cameras by a staff member, particularly during night hours, weekends, and holiday shifts.
- Periodically audit by interviewing residents to determine if there may have been unreported sexual assaults.
