A Florida home health care aide, Beatrice Taylor, 25, has been arrested and charged with aggravated manslaughter following the death of an 86-year-old male patient under her care. The patient, who passed away in his Winter Haven home on August 15, had been diagnosed with congestive heart failure, and Taylor was responsible for his overnight care. report from People.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office released a statement detailing the events that led to the patient’s death. According to the authorities, Taylor began her shift at 9 p.m. and was supposed to monitor the patient, who lived with his wife. However, she reportedly fell asleep on the couch, which was against the rules of her employment.
Around 1 a.m., Taylor claimed to have been awakened by a “thump” coming from the patient’s bedroom. Upon checking, she found the elderly man lying on the floor with his head wedged between the bed and the nightstand. When she attempted to help him back into bed, the patient reportedly asked her not to touch him. Instead of assisting him further or calling for help, Taylor left him on the floor and returned to sleep.
Taylor allegedly woke up again around 4 a.m., but instead of immediately checking on the patient, she spent 30 minutes talking to her parents on the phone. It wasn’t until 5:30 a.m., when she found the patient unresponsive, that she finally called 911—after first contacting her employer.
An autopsy later determined that the patient had died from positional asphyxia, exacerbated by his pre-existing health conditions. The autopsy revealed that the man’s pacemaker showed he was still alive at 1 a.m. when Taylor had first discovered him on the floor. According to the medical examiner, had Taylor called 911 when she initially found the patient, his death could have been prevented.
Authorities also noted that Taylor had violated her company’s policy by failing to call for emergency assistance immediately. After her arrest, Taylor allegedly made a number of statements, including denying responsibility by saying, “I didn’t kill that man.” A paramedic who arrived on the scene later claimed to have overheard Taylor on the phone, making a shocking remark: “He was old anyway, so what does it matter.” told by AOL.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd expressed outrage over the incident, stating, “The complete disregard for Mr. Anderson’s life by the person employed to care for him is both outrageous and egregious. Her behavior and attitude are deplorable.” He added, “I believe anyone, even those not being paid to care for this elderly man, would have immediately dialed 911 under these circumstances. Our prayers are with Mr. Anderson’s family.”
Taylor was arrested on September 26, and her employer terminated her employment following the incident. She is currently being held without bail, and her arraignment hearing is scheduled for October 29. At the time of publication, it remains unclear whether she has entered a plea, and efforts to reach her attorneys for comment have been unsuccessful.
