Jun 4, 2009 8:14 pm US/Eastern
I-Team: Tracking Predators In Nursing Homes
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
A
CBS4 I-Team investigation into the number of registered sexual predators living in nursing homes across Florida prompted state officials to conduct their own probe; the results of which were a surprise even to them.
Chief I-Team investigator Michelle Gillen said no one in the state took a serious look at where men listed as some of Florida's most dangerous and violent registered sex offenders were calling home until
CBS4 told the story of Ivey Edwards.
Edwards, a career criminal, was placed in a nursing home by the state. One night the 83-year-old entered another resident's room, got out of his wheelchair and raped 77-year-old Virginia Thurston.
"How could they do that to my mother?"
For seven years Thurston's daughter Sandy Banning says she's been asking that question and getting no answers.
After being made aware of the
CBS4 I-Team investigation, Department of Children and Families Secretary George Sheldon ordered his own investigation into what happened to Thurston. His investigative team confirmed what the
CBS4 I-Team had discovered -- that Edwards was found incompetent to stand trial and committed to a state hospital in 2005.
"The fact that people were not able to identify where he was, was a concern to me," said Sheldon. "He's currently is in a nursing home in Georgia. They were not aware of Mr. Edward's background and they were pleased we had communicated with them."
Sheldon also reached out to Georgia's Commissioner in charge of Human Services which overseas nursing home inspections in the state.
"Just to be sure the appropriate kind of precautions are being taken to oversee this individual," said Sheldon.
Banning was overjoyed when she was given the news.
"If I could, I would hug your neck. What you have done and taken out to the public has made such a huge difference," she told Gillen. "I am seeing action for the first time in seven years. I am finally seeing action."
Sheldon admitted he was shocked by the findings presented to him by Wes Bledsoe, founder of A Perfect Cause, which sounded the alarm over placing sex offenders in nursing homes. Bledsoe's group was able to identify 86 registered sex offenders living Florida nursing homes. DCF ordered its own investigation and found more than 90 registered sexual offenders living in state nursing homes.
"The number right now is 92," said Sheldon. "We have to do a better job of tracking them."
Blesdoe has been urging states to wake up to the dangers of placing violent offenders and predators in homes with the most vulnerable sees Sheldon's actions as steps that could lead the way for the rest of the country.
"To see the Secretary step up to the plate is huge. Finally we are starting to see that boulder move. Now we just need to keep it moving," said Bledsoe.
Click Here for more on the
I-Team investigation into nursing home abuse.
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