On 02/03/2020 at about 11:13 AM, Officers of the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) responded to a call for service at 101 South Union Boulevard, the Union Printers Home, regarding a reported death. Officers and responding medical personnel located 90-year-old Margarita Sam, lying on a bench on the long term care facility’s property. CSPD’s Crimes Against At-Risk Adults Unit conducted the subsequent death investigation.
After an autopsy, the El Paso County Coroner’s Office determined that the victim had died of hypothermia. Ms. Sam wandered outside the facility and became exposed to temperatures in the range of 23-30 degrees Fahrenheit. Following an investigation by CSPD and the Colorado Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, the decision was made to file criminal charges against three employees of the Union Printers Home long-term care facility related to Ms. Sam’s death.
Nurse Rosalie Warren, 52 years of age, was charged with Negligent Death of an At-risk Person, Colorado Statute 18-6.5-103(2)(a), a Class 4 Felony, and Neglect of an At-Risk person, Colorado Statute 18-6.5-103(6)(a), a class 1 misdemeanor.
Certified Nursing Assistant Asia Murray, 35 years of age, was charged with Neglect of an At-Risk person, Colorado Statute 18-6.5-103(6)(a), a class 1 misdemeanor.
Certified Nursing Assistant Taquenis Eldridge, 31 years of age, was charged with Neglect of an At-Risk person, Colorado Statute 18-6.5-103(6)(a), a class 1 misdemeanor.
All suspects, in this case, have been served summonses and await upcoming court dates. The case will be prosecuted in the 4th Judicial District by the Attorney General’s Office.