HOLLYWOOD, Fla. _ The chief administrator and three nurses who worked at a Florida nursing home have been formally charged with multiple counts of manslaughter in the heat-related deaths of patients after Hurricane Irma, state prosecutors announced Monday.
The Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills went three days without air conditioning after the hurricane knocked it out but by then patients began dying, one after another. By the end of Sept. 13, 2017, eight elderly patients at the Hollywood facility had died.
The first patient to die had a temperature of 108.3 when she was taken to the Memorial Regional Hospital across the street. The next had a temperature of 107 degrees.
Four more patients died in coming weeks and were ruled heat-related homicides as well.
Although a dozen people died, state prosecutors found the evidence was insufficient to prove criminal charges beyond a reasonable doubt in the deaths of three of the nursing home residents, said a spokeswoman for the Broward state attorney's office.
Jorge Carballo, 61, the nursing home's chief administrator, faces nine counts of aggravated manslaughter of an elderly person or disabled adult.
Sergo Colin, 45, registered nurse and night shift nursing supervisor, faces the same.
Althia Meggie, 36, registered nurse, faces two counts of aggravated manslaughter of an elderly person or disabled adult and two counts of tampering with or fabricating evidence in connection with medical records.
Tamika Miller, 31, licensed practical nurse, faces six counts of aggravated manslaughter and two counts of tampering.
All four were arrested last month and have been released on bond while awaiting trial.
