posted on September 13, 2005 03:19:35 PM newLa. nursing home owners charged with negligent homicide
Associated Press
Sept. 13, 2005 03:15 PM
BATON ROUGE, La. - The husband-and-wife owners of a New Orleans-area nursing home where 34 people died in Hurricane Katrina’s floodwaters were charged Tuesday with negligent homicide.
The case represents the first major prosecution to come out of the disaster in New Orleans.
The owners of St. Rita’s Nursing Home in the town of Chalmette “were asked if they wanted to move (the patients). They did not. They were warned repeatedly that this storm was coming. In effect, their inaction resulted in the deaths of these patients,” Louisiana Attorney General Charles Foti said.
Salvador A. Mangano and his wife, Mable, surrendered and were jailed on 34 counts of negligent homicide. Each count carries up to five years in prison.
The attorney general said he is also investigating the discovery of more than 40 corpses at flooded-out Memorial Medical Center, in New Orleans’ Uptown section.
The Manganos had an evacuation plan as required under state law and a contract with an ambulance service to evacuate the patients, but they did not call the company, Foti said. They also turned down an offer from St. Bernard Parish officials who asked if the nursing home wanted help evacuating, he said.
Foti said the bodies have not all been identified and he was not sure how many of the victims were patients or staff.
posted on September 13, 2005 03:30:35 PM new
Good! I heard they were all left in there beds to die (the ones that couldn't walk). I hope they both stay in jail for the rest of their lives. Thanks for the update, Double.
posted on September 13, 2005 03:35:38 PM new
Its all so sad. And yes, they deserve to be punished. I wonder how many others will be charged like this one?
posted on September 13, 2005 06:26:12 PM new
God I hope they get life with no parole. Those poor, poor people. They must have been so scared and helpless.
I hadn't heard this about them being charged. I am so glad.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Caroline
posted on September 13, 2005 08:41:21 PM new
I'm not sure if this is the same nursing home I read about where they just totally abandoned all their patients and left them to drowned or not.
But I'm glad to hear these people are being charged and if found guilty to be give a life sentence.
I can't imagine dying that way. Not being able to help yourself get out or having no one to help you, no way to call someone for help. <shudder>
)
Caroline 
<shudder>