It was recently reported that as many as one in five, or 20% of nursing home patients suffer abuse not at the hands of staff, but from other residents. This unfortunate statistic has many people concerned. It can end in tragedy as it did in one nursing home in Jacksonville, Florida.
An intellectually disabled 51-year old Jacksonville man was charged with aggravated elder abuse in June. The charges came after he sat on another man, causing him to stop breathing. The man was identified as Freddy Lee Williams.
The victim, 32-year-old Kevin Wilkes, was taken to St. Vincent’s Riverside Hospital after an employee of Loving Hands found Williams sitting on top of Wilkes and discovered that Wilkes was not breathing.
In addition to being intellectually disabled, Williams suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, obesity, and high blood pressure.
According to police, Williams only spoke a few words and only to people that he knew well.
Wilkes suffered from epilepsy, autism, and was also intellectually disabled. He was non-verbal according to police reports.
Both men lived at R&R Loving Hands in Jacksonville.
Williams began his stay at Loving Hands in December and had four or five violent outbursts since beginning to reside there. He had reportedly sat on Wilkes three times in the past.
A staff member of the facility told police that Williams had attacked Wilkes before.
In one of the arresting officer’s notes, it was indicated that due to his diminished mental capacity, Williams was not read his Miranda rights. Williams had been placed under the Baker Act previously.
He is currently being held without bond.
If you or someone you love has suffered abuse or neglect while in the care of a nursing home, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the law offices of Schenk Smith. Our attorneys will fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us today.
