COLONIAL HEIGHTS – The nursing home where 18 employees face several charges related to allegations of elder abuse that led to the death of a former resident is pledging to “fully cooperate” with the investigation.
Colonial Heights Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, where five of the 18 were arrested by authorities on December 18, released its first statement since that day. The three-sentence statement provided few details due to the ongoing investigation, but pledged to cooperate with investigators while continuing with day-to-day business.
“We are, as always, focused on the care of our residents. Their well-being remains first and foremost,” said the statement, issued by a public relations firm representing the center. “We are not at liberty to discuss the allegations as the investigation is ongoing and we are cooperating fully with authorities.”
Colonial Heights police, along with authorities from the Department of Health and the Virginia Attorney General’s Elder Abuse Task Force, raided the Ellerslie Avenue Nursing Home on Wednesday. In addition to arrest warrants, they also had search warrants for additional information.
Five employees, including the nursing home director, were arrested on the spot.
The investigation stemmed from the Oct. 5 discharge of a 73-year-old woman who her family said showed signs of abuse and neglect. Shortly after investigators became involved, the woman died.
The charges range from falsifying records and obstructing legal process — all felonies — to more serious crimes of abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults, Colonial Heights police said in announcing the investigation.
Updates on those arrested
On Thursday, five of the suspects were arraigned in Colonial Heights General District Court, including the center’s director, Shawanda Jeter.
Jeter, 46, of Richmond, faces one count of abuse and neglect of a vulnerable adult resulting in death, one count of abuse and neglect of a vulnerable adult resulting in injury, two counts of abuse and neglect of vulnerable adult , and one count of abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults. opposing and obstructing the legal process. She is currently being held at the Riverside Regional Jail in Prince George County.
Danielle Cline Harris, 53, of Disputanta, also faces abuse and neglect resulting in death and is also being held in Riverside. Both Harris and Jeter are scheduled to appear in General District Court on March 26, 2025.
Christine Gentry, 33, of Franklin, will appear in court Dec. 23 to answer five counts of falsifying patient records. She was released on her own initiative.
Danyell Berberich, 48, of Dinwiddie County, and Katiema Booker, 32, of Petersburg, will also appear in court on December 23 on one count each of falsifying records.
The other suspects
In the meantime, arrests have been made of 11 of the remaining 13 suspects:
-
Kamesha Michelle Kittrell of Richmond was charged Friday with two counts of abuse and neglect resulting in death and one count of abuse and neglect resulting in injury. She remains in custody in Riverside and her next court appearance is December 30.
-
Shakima Franklin Brewer of Richmond was charged Friday with abuse and neglect resulting in death and five counts of falsifying records. Brewer, who is now in custody in Riverside, will return to court on March 26, 2025.
-
Monica Pickering-Harris, of Prince George, will be arraigned on December 23 for falsifying records.
-
Miracle Kendra Austin, of Midlothian, will be arraigned on two counts of falsifying records on December 23.
-
Voncelia Delores White, of Hopewell, will be arraigned Jan. 8 on two counts of falsifying records.
-
Ashley Webb, of Disputanta, will be arraigned on December 23 for falsifying records.
-
Shacary Marie Faison of Hopewell will be arraigned on December 23 for falsifying records.
-
Paola Andrea Ho-Arias, of Colonial Heights, will be arraigned Dec. 23 on two counts of falsifying records.
-
Nichole Overfield, of Colonial Heights, will be arraigned on December 23 for falsifying records.
-
Lakisha Renee Young-Johnson, of Richmond, will be arraigned on December 23 for falsifying records.
-
Rochelle Elaine Allen, of Glen Allen, will be arraigned Dec. 23 on two counts of falsifying records.
All have been released on bail or recognizance.
Arrest warrants are still pending for the final two suspects, identified as Paulette Landes and Rugiati Contech. Landes was charged with resisting or obstructing legal proceedings, and Contech was charged with two counts of falsifying records.
Colonial Heights Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, a 196-bed facility, is owned by Henrico County-based Innovative Healthcare Management LLC. The company also owns Wonder City Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Hopewell, two locations in Richmond and one in the southwestern Virginia city of Chilhowie.
Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist covering breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BAtkinson_PI.
This article originally appeared in The Progress-Index: Colonial Heights Nursing Home Releases Statement on Elder Abuse Investigation
