Grand jury probe of Itasca nursing home death delayed

Prosecutors delayed Thursday's anticipated DuPage County grand jury probe into the death of an elderly resident of an Itasca nursing home.

They still are expected to seek the felony indictment against a 23-year-old nursing assistant alleging neglect and obstructing justice, but a 10 a.m. Thursday closed-door proceeding was delayed in a last-minute decision.

"There were issues that necessitated some further work," said DuPage State's Attorney Joseph Birkett, who declined to elaborate. "I preferred to do it today, but there were some things that still needed to be done."

Sarah "Sally" Wentworth died early Feb. 5 at The Arbor of Itasca after authorities said she wandered outside into subfreezing temperatures. The 89-year-old former Chicago woman suffered from dementia and wore an electronic ankle bracelet.

The nursing assistant is suspected of failing to properly investigate a sounding security alarm while watching television. Police said she lied to them afterward to make it appear Wentworth died in her bed rather than in the private facility's courtyard.

The Arbor has suspended an undisclosed number of employees involved with Wentworth's care. Her family also filed a wrongful-death lawsuit alleging the workers were negligent.

Authorities have said up to four staff members, including the young nursing assistant, initially tried to mislead police Feb. 5 about how Wentworth died. Police later obtained videotaped statements from the workers, who are expected to also appear before the grand jury, possibly next week.

The nursing assistant who is the target of the grand jury probe has declined comment, other than to say that she is not allowed to talk about the incident.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=274981">Grand jury eyes charges in Itasca nursing home death <span class="date">[2/25/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=273842">Victim family's lawyers tour Itasca nursing home <span class="date">[2/21/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=273548">Suspensions come at Itasca nursing home <span class="date">[2/20/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=273213">Nursing home employees suspended, may faces charges in death <span class="date">[2/18/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=271140">Family seeks answers in Itasca nursing home death <span class="date">[2/11/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=270785">Police probe death of nursing home resident <span class="date">[2/10/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>