86-Year-Old Mesa County Woman Dies After Allegedly Being Left Outside In Heat For 6 Hours, Assisted Living Caregivers Charged
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (CBS4) - Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser charged three assisted living caregivers in the death of a resident at the Cappella Assisted Living and Memory Care facility in Grand Junction, the attorney general's office said Tuesday. According to a news release, the three charged allegedly left resident Hazel Place, 86, outside in the heat for six hours.
According to court documents, Jamie Johnston, 30, Jenny Logan, 50, and Letticia Martinez, 27, are charged with the negligent death of an at-risk person and criminally negligent homicide. Martinez and Johnston are also charged with second-degree forgery.
The AG says arrest affidavits for the three suspects are sealed, and they were issued summons to appear in court, so no booking photos are available.
In a statement to CBS4, the facility says it "immediately reported the circumstances surrounding the resident's passing to the appropriate regulatory agencies and launched (its) own internal investigation."
The facility says that internal investigation resulted in the dismissal of two team members, "who were subsequently charged by the Colorado Attorney General." A third team member, the facility says, is now on investigatory leave.
"We are saddened by the passing of this beloved resident," a spokeswoman for Cappella wrote in a statement to CBS4. "We continue to send our sincerest sympathy to this resident's family and friends."
The facility said it is cooperating with the AG's investigation, but will not make further comments "as we focus on the support of residents, team members, and families and honor the right to privacy of all involved during this process."
CBS4 looked at the assisted living facility's previous inspection history with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The facility was last cited for failing to follow proper COVID-19 protocols in 2020, it was the facility's only citation last year.
The next court hearing on the matter will be held Oct. 5, according to court records.
Weiser said the charges come following an investigation by the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Colorado Department of Law and the Grand Junction Police Department.
If you suspect Medicaid fraud or abuse at your loved one's assisted living center, contact the Department of Law at (720) 508-6696 or mfcu.investigations@coag.gov.