Investigators are currently putting together the pieces of how a nursing home’s patient, who’s been “in a persistent vegetative state” for the past 14 years from a “near-drowning incident,” was raped and gave birth on Dec. 29. According to AZ Family, the unidentified woman is a longtime patient under the care of Hacienda Skilled Nursing HealthCare in Phoenix, Ariz., when in the “spring or summer” months she was sexually abused.
Nursing staff realized the woman was about to give birth when they heard “moaning,” according to an interviewed source. “There was a nurse that was there, and from what I’ve heard she’s the one that delivered the baby,” the person said. It has not been made apparent what happened to the newborn, but the baby boy is in good health.
The incident prompted an immediate change in policy for the employees. “I was told that as of now, if a male staff needs to enter a female room, they need to bring in a female employee with them,” the source revealed. There’s an investigation underway to find the suspect, spearheaded by Phoenix Police Sgt. Tommy Thompson.
Spokeswoman Nancy Salmon for the healthcare facility also issued a statement on the matter, writing: “Hacienda Healthcare has been in business in the valley for over 50 years, and has an outstanding reputation providing high quality specialized care for our patients. As a Healthcare provider, we cannot comment on any patient due to Federal and State privacy laws. Additionally, we cannot comment on any ongoing investigations. We can say that our patients and clients health and safety is our #1 priority and that we always cooperate, when asked by any agency, in an open and transparent way.”
View the news report below.
DISTURBING: A woman who’s been in a vegetative state for at least 14 yrs, gave birth to a baby boy Saturday. She was being cared for at a long-term care facility in Phoenix. Now investigators are searching for who raped her.
Our exclusive interview w/ a source close to the case pic.twitter.com/wTLRAqbTRY
— Briana Whitney (@BrianaWhitney) January 4, 2019
READ MORE: A Man Who Raped A 12-Year-Old Was Granted Custody Of The Victim’s Son