Former caretaker sentenced to 30 years after Ankeny man dies in squalor, neglect

by William Morris

Key Points 

• Diana Lynn Becker-Abeyta, 63, was sentenced to 30 years in prison in the death of 73-year-old Ray Crammond, for whom she was a caretaker.
• Becker-Abeyta pleaded guilty to dependent adult abuse and financial exploitation, and entered an Alford plea to involuntary manslaughter.
• Crammond was found malnourished, neglected, and suffering from bedsores, ultimately dying from pneumonia caused by an infection.

An Ankeny woman accused of fatally neglecting an elderly man while using his Social Security benefits for herself has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Diana Lynn Becker-Abeyta, 63, was a paid live-in caretaker for 73-year-old Ray Crammond until his death in April 2023. Summoned to Crammond's home, first responders found him malnourished, dirty and neglected, with numerous bed sores, and learned Becker-Abeyta, who was not licensed as a caregiver, had not been giving him his prescribed medications, prosecutors alleged.

Taken to a hospital, Crammond died several days later of pneumonia that investigators determined was caused by an infection. A medical examiner classified his death as a homicide.

Becker-Abeyta pleaded guilty to dependent adult abuse-financial exploitation, admitting she'd taken some of Crammond's federal benefit money. She separately entered an Alford plea to a count of involuntary manslaughter, maintaining she was innocent but acknowledging the strong evidence against her.

Judge calls case 'horrific'

On Thursday, May 29, she was sentenced to consecutive 15-year terms for each offense. Because Becker-Abeyta also admitted to being a habitual offender due to prior felony drug and fraud convictions, she must serve at least six years before she is eligible for probation. In addition, she must pay $150,000 in restitution to Crammond's heirs, as required by Iowa law.

Judge Paul Scott called the case "horrific," according to a news release from the Polk County Attorney's Office, saying that "the degradation of human body to the extent shown in the photos doesn’t happen overnight.”

Becker-Abeyta apologized at the hearing, calling Crammond a "wonderful man" and saying, "I didn’t do any of this intentionally. … I was in over my head,” according to the news release.

Her attorneys had asked the court to sentence her to probation. 

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Former caretaker sentenced to 30 years after Ankeny man dies in squalor, neglect 

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

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