Carlstadt Man, A Nurse, Charged In Death Of Wheelchair-Bound Man, 19

CARLSTADT, NJ — A Carlstadt man who worked as a home health aide has been criminally charged in connection with the death of a disabled man in his care.

The Carlstadt man is Emilio Rivera, 29, a licensed nurse.

He has been criminally charged in connection with the death of Matthew Rossi, 19, of East Hanover, who used a wheelchair and died on Feb. 10 while under Rivera's care.

NJ.com reports that Rossi was born with muscular dystrophy; he could not walk or talk. He also required frequent suctioning of his mouth and airway to breathe.

On February 10 of this year, East Hanover Police were called to a private home for a report of an unconscious man. Rossi had just arrived home on the bus from his school.

EMS and East Hanover Police tried CPR and other life-saving techniques, but the young man was pronounced dead at the scene.

While on the bus ride home, Rossi was accompanied by his health aide, Rivera, said Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll. It is alleged that Rivera "neglected to perform certain acts" necessary for Rossi's care, and "created a substantial risk of the victim’s death," said the county prosecutor.

Rivera has been charged with one count of second-degree endangering another person and third-degree neglect of a disabled person.

Charges were filed Nov. 2. Rivera has been arrested and is currently at the Morris County Correctional Facility pending a first court appearance.