Nursing Home Abuse Suspect in Andover Charged, Pleads Not Guilty

In May of this year, the family of nursing home abuse victim Donna Colcher took her case to court. Now, nursing home abuse suspect Geofrey Nyanswego has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Butler County Attorney’s Office filed one charge of felony nursing home abuse against Nyanswego in May, accusing home of mistreating an elderly resident at the Victoria Falls Skilled Nursing Home.

Joanna Wheatley, Donna Colcher’s daughter, was the first to notice physical signs of nursing home abuse. She said, “The bruising is the one thing that brought my concern to it first, because I found it very hard to believe that my mom was getting these astronomical bruises.”

Mrs. Colcher suffers dementia, which allowed the skilled nursing facility’s administrators to brush off the bruises as falls or other accidents that the elderly woman experienced. However, Mrs. Colcher later told her husband of 24 years, Ed, that she was being abused.

“She said ‘I’m scared, I’m scared’ I said, ‘Are they mean to you at night?’ She said ‘some of them are’,” Ed said.

Ed Colcher and his daughter agreed to set up a NannyCam in Donna’s room to monitor activity around her. By that evening, the camera captured footage of a nurse – believed to be Nyanswego – abusing and neglecting Donna for hours.

Ed immediately moved his wife to a new facility, and after 6 months, the family informed the Andover Police Department of the abuse. In January of this year, the police department began investigating the Victoria Falls Nursing Home, and the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability services looked into the felony nursing home abuse claims as well. Aging and Disability investigators said that the agency cited the facility for failing to meet several requirements. A department inspection showed that at least 2 of the 63 residents suffered verbal and physical abuse at the hands of nurses, including one who had been targeted specifically by a staff member for months of abuse, and another who had been abused by a fellow resident.

The facility faces $200,000 in fines for the nursing home abuse charges. Nyanswego, who has pleaded not guilty to the felony nursing home abuse charge, was released on a $50,000 bond; however, he had to turn in his passport to his attorney and remain in Kansas while he awaits trial. If he is found guilty on the felony nursing home abuse charge, he faces 11 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.

The Strom Law Defends Victims of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

Signs of abuse and neglect to look for when your loved one is in a nursing home or residential care facility.    Nursing-Home patients experiencing the physical abuse of their caregivers may exhibit:

• bruises, welts, burns
• unexplained bone injuries and other physical injuries
• repeated accidents
• personal injuries left untreated

You may also notice:

• withdrawal from family and friends
• fear, uneasiness, anxiety
• unexplained weight gain or loss
• sudden loss of interest in living
• a sudden decline of psychological health
• signs of anxiety, distrust or fear toward their caregiver,
• signs or symptoms of severe shock including the growth and development of tics such as rocking or refusing to speak
• a desire to be alone.

You are not alone.  If your loved one has physically suffered, or died wrongfully, due to neglect or abuse in a nursing home or residential care facility, you may have a nursing home abuse case. The attorneys at The Strom Law Firm, LLC, understand the sensitive nature of elder abuse cases, and will treat you with respect and compassion. It is important to fight elder abuse so you, your family, and others no longer suffer because of criminal behavior. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case. Contact us today for help. 803.252.4800