A Nigerian nursing assistant intentionally broke his 98-year-old patient’s leg before she died while undergoing surgery to fix it, police say.
Hakim Ogunkunle, 43, is facing aggravated battery charges for allegedly injuring his patient, Edna Warren, while she was under his care on Tuesday, at the Newnan Health and Rehabilitation in Georgia, Mail online reports.
According to the police report, Ogunkunle had attempted to get Warren ready for breakfast when she became combative and began kicking him. When Ogunkunle allegedly held her legs together to keep from getting kicked, he heard a cracking sound in her leg.
Warren was rushed to the Piedmont Newnan Hospital to have emergency surgery but died during the procedure.
More charges could result from Friday’s autopsy after the findings are turned over to the local district attorney’s office, according to Public Affairs Deputy Director Bahan Rich with the GBI, The New Times Herald reports.
Further reports indicated Ogunkunle lied about the manner of which Warren sustained her injuries. After staff received conflicting reports, with the suspect later admitting that he was scared he would get into trouble.
“After detectives received the report, we looked into it, and, based on cases involving elder abuse, we contacted the GBI,” said Chief Deputy Mark Cooper with the Newnan Police Department. “We’ve continued to work side by side, with the GBI acting as the lead agency.”
The GBI’s investigation later concluded Ogunkunle intentionally caused Warren’s injury, according to Special Agent Fred Wimberly.
The nurse assistant has in the past had a charge of battery against patients in personal care at a home, hospice, or long-term care facility or assisted living, but wasn’t prosecuted.