Illinois CNA Sentenced to Six Months for Nursing Home Death
Heidi Leon
We discussed Sara Wentworth's tragic death in previous blogs.
On February 5, 2009, eighty-nine year-old Sarah Wentworth left the Arbor of Itasca nursing home and went outside, triggering a door alarm. Heidi Leon, a CNA on duty at the time, reportedly turned off the alarm and continued watching television, never looking to see if a resident had tried to leave the building. Hours later, Sarah Wentworth was found outside the facility and brought back inside. She passed away several hours later from extended exposure to extreme cold.
After Ms. Wentworth's death, Leon provided false information to Itasca police in an attempt to derail their investigation.
Leon, who has been in the DuPage County Jail since her arrest, pleaded guilty to one count of criminal neglect of a long-term care facility resident and one count of obstruction of justice on October 5, 2009. She was sentenced to 180 days in jail and was released Monday, having served 181 days in jail. She was also ordered to serve 30 months probation.
The Terry Law Firm is experienced in handling cases of nursing home abuse and neglect. Please contact us with any questions or concerns at (888) 317-2525 or visit us on our website at www.nursinghomejustice.com.
