The owner and an employee of an assisted living facility in California were arrested after an 88-year-old resident with dementia wandered from the complex while the worker slept and later died, state officials said.

According to a Feb. 5 news release from the California Department of Justice, the women, affiliated with the Rose Garden Residential Care Home in Watsonville were each charged with one felony count of elder abuse.

According to court records filed on Jan. 24, 2025, a criminal complaint stated that Candie Gomez Rogers and Librada Gomez Najera allowed Andrew Hegarty to walk out in the cold and die from exposure, KSWB reported.

Officials issued a temporary suspension for the care facility in April, according to an evaluation report obtained by Lookout Santa Cruz. The Fresno Bee reported that residents were relocated, and the facility officially closed down in October, according to state social services records.

Hegerty was found dead after wandering from the care home facility in mid-November 2022, according to officials and a criminal complaint.

According to a statement by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Hegerty was discovered dead after departing from Rose Garden Residential Care Home. An investigation revealed that the staff member responsible for his care fell asleep and was unaware of his absence. Hegerty, dressed only in a T-shirt and diaper, wandered about 0.4 of a mile from the facility and died from exposure to the cold.

“Elders deserve care, respect, and protection,” Bonta said. “Those who are responsible for the care of elderly and dependent adults carry a profound duty to ensure their safety and well-being. At the California Department of Justice, we are committed to standing against any form of elder abuse or neglect, and we will take immediate action to hold accountable those who exploit or harm these vulnerable individuals.”

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