Man dies in Pinellas nursing home, possible abuse investigated

PINELLAS PARK, FL (WFLA) – A resident at the local nursing home died at the hospital Saturday. Now Pinellas Park Police detectives are investigating if this was a case of abuse.

It happened at the Gracewood Nursing Home located at 8600 U.S. Highway 19 North in Pinellas Park. About 10 p.m. Saturday PPPD officers were informed by paramedics that a resident at the facility who was possibly a victim of abuse was taken to a hospital.

According to the initial report, the 65-year-old man may have been left outside in the sun for a long time. He had second-degree burns with blisters and was suffering from dehydration. Paramedics said he went into a cardiac failure and died.

Pinellas Park PD detectives are now investigating what exactly had happened at the nursing home. They are working to determine if any abuse has occurred and whether or not it contributed to the man’s death.

The victim, Wilbert Henry Moten, had no relatives, only a guardian appointed to him.

The Department of Children and Families was notified and will also be involved in the investigation.

The facility has been fined five times in the last 10 years for various violations, including a failure to file a nursing home renewal application on time, failure to provide an accurate assessment of dental hygiene and access to dental care,  failure to ensure the mechanical lifts function properly and others.

Stay with WFLA for more on this developing story.

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Man dies in Pinellas nursing home, possible abuse investigated