A 92-year-old man is facing attempted murder and first-degree strangulation charges after police say he placed a plastic bag over his wife’s face at a senior living center. Bert Morris allegedly pinched his wife’s nose as the bag sealed, and a nurse had to intervene to separate the couple. The victim, also 92, was hospitalized and unconscious.
The second arrest is drawing just as much attention. Terrence Gabie, 41, the victim’s designated caretaker, was charged with knowingly abusing or neglecting an adult after police say he recorded a 71-second video of the incident rather than helping. Both men pleaded not guilty Thursday. Morris’s bond was reduced from $250,000 to $150,000, Gabie was released on personal recognizance, and preliminary hearings are scheduled for Nov. 6.
For families across the Suncoast with loved ones in assisted living, from Sarasota to Venice and Port Charlotte, the case raises difficult but necessary questions about oversight, duty of care, and what we should expect from the people entrusted with our elders. What steps do you take to stay involved in a loved one’s care?
