Florida man accused of fatally beating fellow resident with diminished mental capacity in nursing home
05/12/2022 2:32 pm PDT
FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. (TCD) -- A 72-year-old man was arrested after allegedly beating a 77-year-old fellow resident to death at their nursing home.
According to a news release from the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, in the early hours of Wednesday, May 11, an investigation was launched after a resident was found dead at the Gold Choice Assisted Living and Memory Care facility in Palm Coast. A worker at the facility told WKMG-TV the victim entered the suspect's room, and he "had choked her out and she’s expired."
Cliff Mody reportedly told nursing home employees he had beaten a woman to death, and they called 911.
The worker also told WKMG, "I walked in and he had blood on his hands and she has a busted lip. I could look at her and soon as I walked in and knew she was expired and I felt for a pulse and there’s no pulse." The worker reportedly told authorities they've had issues with Mody attacking somebody in the past.
In a press conference, the Flagler County Sheriff's Office said they’re still investigating why the victim was in Mody's room. According to a charging document obtained by WKMG, the victim suffered a diminished mental capacity and would regularly “enter the rooms of other residents and attempt to lay in bed with them.”
According to the Sheriff's Office, Mody was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. He remains held in the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility without bond.
In a statement, Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said, "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families involved and we worked hard to make sure the suspect is held accountable for his actions. Families need to know that their loved ones are safe when they are moved into the care of any facility and I encourage them to always conduct thorough facility research. I commend Detective Crosbee and the team that assisted him in bringing this case to a quick closure."
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