Attorney General's News Release

September 29, 2006

Judge orders $5,000 fine on resident neglect conviction for corporation that operated group home in Bolivar

Bolivar, Mo. — The corporation which operated Turtle Creek Nursing Home in Bolivar was ordered Thursday (Sept. 28) to pay a $5,000 fine after being convicted of resident neglect in connection with the death of one of its residents in January 2002. Senior Judge Theodore B. Scott ordered Community Alternatives Missouri Inc.(CAMO) to pay the fine, after the corporation was found guilty of resident neglect in a jury trial in July.

Attorney General Jay Nixon prosecuted the charge against CAMO and also successfully prosecuted separate charges against the manager of the facility and against six aides in connection with the death of Gary Oheim, age 40.

Mary Collura of Buffalo, the manager of Turtle Creek, was sentenced to five years in prison in April after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Collura admitted she failed to make adequate provision in December 2001 and early January 2002 for the appropriate treatment of decubitis ulcers, also know as bedsores, that Oheim developed.

The victim, who was confined to a wheelchair, suffered from cerebral palsy and was physically and mentally handicapped. He was moved into the Turtle Creek facility in February 2001, and later admitted into Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar on Jan. 10, 2002 due to severe ulcers. Oheim died later that month at the hospital.

Six persons who worked as aides at Turtle Creek Nursing Home also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of elder abuse in the third degree and failure to report suspected abuse of a mental health patient.

The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Attorney General's Office has concurrent jurisdiction in prosecuting and investigating cases where the victim is a Medicaid recipient.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

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