Itasca nurse's aide arrested in death probe

The certified nurse's assistant accused of failing to provide proper care for an Itasca nursing home resident who died after wandering outside into the cold was arrested Wednesday.

Itasca police took Heidi Leon into custody about 2 p.m. on a $100,000 arrest warrant at her apartment on the 900 block of West Irving Park Road in Bensenville.

Leon, 23, does not have a prior criminal history. She must post the required 10 percent bail to be released.

Her arrest comes one day after a DuPage County grand jury indicted Leon on five felony counts alleging elderly neglect and obstructing justice. She faces probation or up to seven years in prison.

Prosecutors said Leon failed to check in on 89-year-old Sarah Wentworth and other elderly residents early Feb. 5 after a 1 a.m. alarm alerted staff that an outside door had been opened. Leon turned off the alarm and went back to watching television, the indictment said. The nursing assistant also is charged with lying to police when they said she told them she saw Wentworth in her bed during a 3 a.m. well-being check.

Wentworth, formerly of Chicago's West Side, was wearing an electronic ankle bracelet because she suffered from dementia and was prone to wandering.

The Arbor hired Leon in March 2008. Prosecutors said she failed to follow the facility's procedures and industry standards that morning. The Arbor officials cooperated fully with the criminal investigation, officials said, as well as suspended certain employees.

No other employees are expected to face criminal charges.

Authorities said Leon surrendered peacefully. She has hired an attorney, who was not immediately available Wednesday to comment.

Meanwhile, Wentworth's three adult daughters sued The Arbor. The Illinois Department of Public Health is investigating.