Caretaker Arrested In Connection To Death Of 18-Year-Old Resident At Elk Grove Facility
ELK GROVE (CBS13) — A caretaker at a facility for dependent adults was arrested on Tuesday in connection to the death of an 18-year-old resident.
According to police, the Cosumnes Fire Department responded to a 911 call of an unconscious 18-year-old man at a residential care facility for dependent adults, United Living Care Home, on Dec. 26. The victim, identified as Alexander Sanchez, was taken to Kaiser South where staff alerted police of a visible injury to his head two days after he was brought in.
Detectives began investigating the incident and say around noon on Dec. 26, Sanchez and caretaker Aaron Gacilan, 31, got into a physical altercation. Police said Gacilan kicked Sanchez in the head several times until he went limp but was conscious.
"What we know at this point is that there was an altercation between the two, and so during that altercation, that's when the caretaker kicked the victim several times in the head." Elk Grove Police Officer Jason Jimenez said.
Four hours later, Gacilan reportedly went in to check on Sanchez and saw he was unconscious, prompting him to call 911. Sanchez died on Dec. 28, according to the Sacramento County Coroner.
On Tuesday, Gacilan was arrested by Elk Grove police on an arrest warrant for involuntary manslaughter.
Amy Duarte, Sanchez's grandmother, says he was mentally disabled following a car crash when he was an infant. The family had placed him in the residential care facility last year where he was supposed to be getting full-time help.
"I don't understand why, why would you hurt one of the most vulnerable of the human race?" Duarte said.
The family says they are disappointed in the lenient charges brought forth by the district attorney.
"They're saying it was involuntary manslaughter, I don't see how that could be manslaughter," she said. "There's nothing to justify the treatment especially as trained as they are."
Gacilan remains in jail with bail set at $250,000. He's scheduled to be in court on Thursday.