Grand jury eyes charges in Itasca nursing home death

A DuPage County grand jury is expected to be convened today to consider criminal charges in the investigation into the death of an Itasca nursing home resident who was found outside in subfreezing temperatures, numerous sources said.

Sarah "Sally" Wentworth died early Feb. 5 at The Arbor of Itasca after, authorities said, the 89-year-old woman, who suffered from dementia, wandered outside in her flannel nightgown and bare feet.

Prosecutors are expected to seek a five-felony count indictment against a nursing assistant who is accused of failing to investigate a sounding security door alarm while watching "Dog the Bounty Hunter," a reality television show.

The employee, Heidi Leon, 23, whose last known address was in Bensenville, also is accused of initially lying to police to make it appear the elderly woman died in her bed rather than outside in the facility's courtyard.

Leon declined to comment Wednesday when reached by telephone.

"I'm not allowed to say anything," she said.

Several law enforcement sources told the Daily Herald they have investigated as many as four nursing staff members, including Leon, on suspicion the women initially lied to police about how Wentworth died.

Prosecutors subpoenaed the other employees to testify before the grand jury, but so far they are not being charged in exchange for their cooperation. The employees - a 30-year-old Streamwood woman, 42-year-old Hanover Park woman and a 57-year-old Glendale Heights woman - did not return phone calls Wednesday seeking comment.

DuPage State's Attorney Joseph Birkett is expected to hold a news conference today in the Wheaton courthouse to announce charges.

Rescuers received a 911 call at 5:43 a.m. Feb. 5 from The Arbor staff reporting an unresponsive person. Police said they were told Wentworth died in her bed, but the officers uncovered conflicting employee statements during the videotaped interviews.

Authorities also were suspicious because 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 normal 98.6 degrees. Police still haven't found the flannel nightgown she wore to bed the night before despite an exhaustive search, including at a Mount Prospect waste facility.

The Arbor has confirmed some employees involved with Wentworth's care have been suspended pending the outcome of its internal probe. The Illinois Department of Public Health also is investigating.

Wentworth, formerly of Chicago's West Side, has three daughters. They filed a civil wrongful death lawsuit against The Arbor alleging "gross neglect." Their attorney, Louis C. Cairo, toured The Arbor last week to take photos, video and measurements to document the line of sight from the nursing station to Wentworth's bedroom.

Charges: The Arbor has suspended several employees