Tuesday, October 31, 2023

Ankeny woman charged with murder in death of 73-year-old, bedridden man

by Virginia Barreda

An Ankeny woman who served as a caretaker to a bedridden, elderly man was charged with second-degree murder in connection with his death due to abuse, detectives with the Polk County Sheriff's Office say.

Diana Lynn Becker-Abeyta, 61, who served as 73-year-old Ray Crammond's "live-in caretaker," was arrested Wednesday following a months-long Iowa Department of Human Services investigation, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.

Crammond, who died April 29 after contracting pneumonia, had received "inadequate care" from Becker-Abeyta, officials allege. According to court documents, Crammond was not given medications, bathed, fed, hydrated, or "meeting any basic needs" in a "bed-ridden state."

First responders described the conditions and health of Crammond as "devastating" when they arrived at his home in April, according to a court filing.

Responders said Crammond had multiple bed sores on his back and buttocks, it said. Crammond was taken to Mercy hospital where he died eight days later.

The Department of Human Services began an investigation into Crammond's death in May following his death. DHS caseworkers who went to Crammond's house found the residence to be "extremely dirty and un-kept," officials said.

Detectives also found Becker-Abeyta is a non-licensed caretaker. They allegedly also found evidence that Becker-Abeyta had been using Crammond’s money for things other than his care.

In June, Becker-Abeyta was arrested and charged with financial exploitation of an older individual and neglect of a dependent person, according to the news release.

Later, results from an investigation into Crammond’s death, as well as autopsy results from the State of Iowa’s Medical Examiner's Office, found he had gotten pneumonia due to Klebsiella pneumoniae Infection. The manner of his death was a homicide, according to the news release.

The sheriff's office put out an arrest warrant for Becker-Abeyta on Oct. 18 and she was booked in the Polk County Jail on Wednesday, the news release said.

Full Article & Source:
Ankeny woman charged with murder in death of 73-year-old, bedridden man

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