Suspensions come at Itasca nursing home
An Itasca nursing home where an 89-year-old woman died in subfreezing temperatures has suspended the employees involved in her care that morning, as a probe into possible criminal charges continues.
The Arbor of Itasca confirmed the suspensions Thursday as the facility, police, prosecutors, state health officials and Sarah Wentworth's family conduct investigations into what happened Feb. 5 and how the workers responded.
The former Chicago woman's three daughters filed a wrongful-death lawsuit that allows their attorneys at 10:30 a.m. today to conduct a court-ordered inspection of the private nursing home at 535 S. Elm St. Two of Wentworth's daughters plan to attend.
Attorney Louis Cairo said they will take photos, video and measurements inside the facility to document the line of sight from the nursing station to Wentworth's room and the door they suspect she exited to go outside into the courtyard.
Cairo said the employee suspensions are telling.
"I wouldn't summarily suspend any of my employees because of an allegation unless I believed they were guilty," he said.
But the nursing home's attorney, Bill Radke, said it is standard operating procedure when a probe into a resident's care arises.
"Certain employees of The Arbor have been suspended pending investigation of the Sarah Wentworth incident," Radke said. "The Arbor has not completed its investigation of this matter."
The woman's family questions how she had the strength to end up outside without help, but authorities said Wentworth suffered from dementia and likely wandered outside on her own.
They said a security alarm sounded, triggered by Wentworth's electronic ankle bracelet, but a female employee watching television at a nearby nurses station failed to investigate beyond a cursory glance down the hallway. Employees often use the same exit for a smoking break, officials said.
Authorities said they suspect employees panicked after finding Wentworth outside after a 5 a.m. well-being check, and then some of them conspired to try to make it look like she died naturally while in her bed.
Police and prosecutors have met to discuss possible criminal charges against up to four employees, who may face obstructing justice or neglect charges. DuPage State's Attorney Joseph Birkett has said only that he expects the investigation to wrap up soon.
Rescuers received the 911 call at 5:43 a.m. Feb. 5 from The Arbor staff reporting an unresponsive resident.
Police said they initially were told Wentworth died while asleep in her bed, but officers uncovered conflicting statements from employees during the videotaped interviews. Authorities also were suspicious after seeing that Wentworth was dressed in a hospital gown, covered in blankets and lying on a gurney hooked up to an oxygen machine with a thermometer lying nearby.
Wentworth was cool to the touch with a temperature in the 60s, well below the average 98.6 degrees. Police still haven't found the flannel nightgown she wore to bed the night before despite an exhaustive search.
Suspensions: Photos, measurements to be taken inside home