Adult care home owner sentenced to 21 years in death of patient he beat

by Elena Santa Cruz

Booking photo for Valer Catuna.

The owner of a Phoenix-based adult care home was sentenced to prison earlier this month in the death of a vulnerable adult entrusted to his care, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced on Thursday.

Mayes stated in a news release that Valer Catuna, 55, who was the part owner of Artemis Adult Care Home, will spend 21 years in prison in the 2020 death of 53-year-old William Griswold. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Margaret La Bianca handed Catuna his sentence on July 14.

"The details of this case are unconscionable. Mr. Griswold deserved better, as all vulnerable adults do," Mayes stated in the release. "My office will not tolerate fraud and abuse perpetuated against our state's elderly and vulnerable residents — and those committing these crimes will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

On Oct. 21, 2020, Catuna and Griswold had a dispute, the news release stated. Griswold had requested a cigarette, but the matter escalated with Catuna eventually pinning Griswold down on his bed and punching him on the side of his torso, the press release stated. Catuna broke seven of Griswold's ribs, ruptured his spleen and caused internal bleeding, according to the press release.

Catuna did not call for emergency medical services for Griswold for nine hours, according to the press release. Griswold died from his injuries that same night.

Griswold's death was initially ruled a medical event with no obvious signs of foul play. Catuna's spouse had called 911 to report that Griswold had died of natural causes. Neither Catuna or his spouse reported any assault, which police later learned about from another witness.

But after the Maricopa County Medical Examiner performed an autopsy, his death was ruled a homicide, according to a February 2021 statement released by Phoenix Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Andy Williams.

Catuna was then arrested on suspicion of Griswold's murder and later charged with second-degree murder and vulnerable adult abuse, according to the press release. In May, Catuna agreed to plead guilty to manslaughter.

Griswold was a patient diagnosed with numerous health and mental problems, the press release stated. These included a traumatic brain injury, which was caused by being struck by a car in 2017. Before his death, he had been a patient at the adult care home for almost 11 months.

Last month, Mayes announced the formation of a new Elder Affairs Unit within her office to better coordinate and strengthen efforts to combat fraud and abuse against Arizona's vulnerable adults, the press release stated.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix adult care home owner sentenced to prison in death of patient

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Adult care home owner sentenced to 21 years in death of patient he beat