For This Florida Nursing Home Employee, Work is a Day at the Beach
Linda Shaw
On July 16, 2008, Linda Shaw was the sole caregiver for overnight care shift for sixteen residents of Personal Care II, an assisted living facility located in Bradenton, Florida. She was scheduled to work from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. A maid at the facility told investigators that Shaw left the center to "go to the beach" and never returned. A facility resident advised that Shaw would frequently leave the facility when scheduled to work. While Shaw was gone, a 47 year old disabled woman suffered a heat stroke and seizures in her room. Her roommate found her on the floor unresponsive with her arms flailing above her head. The roommate called 911 and the resident was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Doctors determined that the resident's temperature was 106 degrees. The air-conditioning in the facility had been off for several days and the temperature in the resident's room was extremely hot.
Shaw said she left the facility at 7:30 p.m. to go home and get her medication and admitted she did not return.
Shaw was arrested and faces charges of neglect of a disabled adult. If convicted, Shaw faces up to five years in prison. Court records allegedly show that Shaw has a criminal history with a 1991 conviction for retail theft and a 1994 conviction for assault and battery.
