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Ex-nursing home worker pleads guilty abusing 96-year-old patient

Judge sentences Lucy W. Gakunga, 24, of Oklahoma City, to two years in prison as part of plea deal for abusing Eryetha Mayberry in April; a co-defendant remains at-large in the case.

By Tim Willert | Published: November 22, 2012

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Ex-nursing home aide pleads guilty, sentenced to two years

Nov 21Ex-nursing home aid Lucy Waithira Gakunga pleaded guilty...

The family placed the camera in the room because they suspected someone was stealing from Mayberry, who died July 27 as a result of Alzheimer's disease and congestive heart failure, a family spokesman said.

“We had no (idea) that she was being mistreated,” said Doris Racher, one of Mayberry's three daughters. “She was so helpless.”

A nursing home administrator declined to comment Wednesday, referring calls to AdCare Health Systems, an Atlanta-based company that purchased the Quail Creek facility in August.

Wendy Brooke, vice president of sales and marketing for AdCare, declined to comment except to say, “We ensure we have the proper state and federal abuse policies in place.”

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