12 Hurricane Irma Nursing Home Deaths Ruled Homicides

HOLLYWOOD, FL — The chief medical examiner of Broward County has ruled as homicides the deaths of 12 of the 14 former residents of the sweltering Hollywood, Florida nursing home who died after the facility lost power during Hurricane Irma. Dr. Craig Mallak ruled that two others deaths were not related to the horrific conditions at the now shuttered Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills. Hollywood police said they would focus their criminal investigation on the dozen victims ruled homicides.

See also Nursing Home Reported Respiratory Problems, Not Stifling Heat

"The Medical Examiner’s office ruled the manner of death of 12 patients from The Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills as homicide with the cause of death attributed to environmental heat exposure," Hollywood police said Wednesday evening. The nursing home was evacuated on Sept. 13.

Some 158 patients were evacuated from the facility, many on stretchers or in wheelchairs in the days following the storm. Hollywood police identified the two victims whose deaths were not related to environmental heat exposure to be 95-year-old Francesca Andrade and 94-year-old Alice Thomas.

The facility staff dialed 9-1-1 on Sept. 12. By the next morning, rescue officials realized the situation at the center had significantly deteriorated. It operated for days without air-conditioning and the rooms became stiflingly hot.

The criminal investigation is focusing on what went wrong and who, if anyone, was to blame. Florida Sen. Bill Nelson has called for a Senate committee investigation into the state's certification process of the facility and the emergency preparedness plans at similar facilities.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott ordered state health officials and the Department of Elder Affairs to issue emergency rules to "keep Floridians safe in healthcare facilities during emergencies." He plans to "aggressively fight" to codify the requirement into law during the 2018 legislative session.

Here is the list of the 12 victims whose deaths were ruled homicides:

1. Carolyn Eatherly, DOB 8-13-39
2. Gail Nova, DOB 2-22-46
3. Estella Hendricks, DOB1-4-46
4. Bobby Owens, DOB 5-16-33
5. Miguel Franco, DOB 9-5-25
6. Manuel Mendieta, DOB 8-26-21
7. Albertina Vega, DOB 10-10-17
8. Betty Hibbard, DOB 1-11-33
9. Carlos Canal, DOB 11-4-23
10. Martha Murray, DOB 1-10-23
11. Dolores Biamonte, DOB 2-25-60
12. Cecilia Franco, DOB 4-2-27

Hollywood police appealed to family members of evacuated residents to get in touch with investigators at 954.967.4411 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. At other times family members can call 954.967.4435.

Photo credit: John McCall/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP