Nursing Home Abuse: Worker Accused of Smothering an 87-Year-Old Patient is Charged with Her Murder
Maximo Hong Fajardo Jr., a 32-year-old certified nursing assistant, is charged with the murder of Barbara McIver. The 87-year-old nursing home resident died last month at the Convalescent Center Mission Street after Fajardo allegedly smothered her.
The first time that Fajardo Jr, a new employee at the assisted living facility, was given permission to spend time with the patients while unsupervised was on the day that McIver died. The alleged murder took place in front of other bedridden patients.
Fajardo Jr. is accused of then fleeing from the nursing home, carjacking two vehicles, attempting to steal a third car, and knocking down a cop while trying to avoid capture.
The nursing home worker, who doesn’t have a criminal record, pleaded not guilty to the criminal charge.
Chicago, Illinois Nursing Home Abuse
Nursing home workers are supposed to take care of patients. They aren't supposed to neglect, abuse, or harm them in any other way. Unfortunately, nursing home abuse and neglect and patient violence continue to be problems at many assisted living facilities, and it is the patients that suffer.
If your loved one was the victim of a violent crime committed by a nursing home worker, another resident, or anyone else at the assisted living facility, you may have grounds for pursuing a Chicago nursing home negligence lawsuit. Long-term care facilities are supposed to make sure that the workers they hire are properly trained, do not have a criminal record or violent tendencies, and are appropriately supervised.
At the Law Offices of Steven J. Malman & Associates, our Chicago nursing home neglect and abuse lawyers know how devastating it is to find out that your loved one was hurt or killed while under the care of the people that you entrusted to looking out for his/her nursing needs and daily care. There are steps that you can take to hold all responsible parties liable.
