Intruder Found Undressed in Elderly Resident’s Bed—Family Sues Nursing Home

 

A nursing home in West Branch, Iowa, is facing a lawsuit following a serious security breach in which an intruder was found undressed in bed with a resident. The incident has raised concerns about the facility’s security measures and staff oversight.

Incident Details

According to the lawsuit, the incident took place at Crestview Specialty Care, a nursing home in West Branch, on April 5, 2023. The resident involved was Ruth Bartow, who has since passed. She had severe cognitive impairments and was admitted to the facility in February 2023. At approximately 2:50 p.m., Crestview staff discovered 54-year-old Michael Beaver, an unauthorized male visitor, lying undressed in bed with Bartow. Staff removed Beaver from the room and notified the police. Bartow was later found crying in her room.

State inspectors later determined that Beaver had been inside the facility for several hours before the incident. Staff had observed him pushing Bartow in her wheelchair at 11:10 a.m. and again at 1:00 p.m. but did not intervene. Beaver had been seen walking around the facility as early as 10:30 a.m. that day.

Legal Action and Allegations

The family of Ruth Bartow has filed a lawsuit against Crestview Specialty Care and its parent company, Care Initiatives, alleging gross negligence and recklessness. The lawsuit claims the facility failed to provide adequate staffing, security, and supervision to prevent unauthorized access, thereby endangering residents.

The legal complaint also accuses the facility of “inappropriately allocating excessive funds to itself, thereby draining the facility of the resources necessary to maintain sufficient and appropriately trained staff.” The lawsuit seeks unspecified actual and punitive damages for breach of contract and dependent adult abuse.

Beaver’s Charges

Michael Beaver was not criminally charged for his role in the Crestview incident. Police cited a lack of direct evidence of sexual assault and noted that Beaver was already subject to a civil commitment order. Two days before the incident, he had been arrested for indecent exposure at the Iowa City Public Library, where he was seen watching pornographic videos and engaging in lewd behavior. He was released from jail on his own recognizance the day before the nursing home incident.

On May 24, 2023, Beaver was again reported for public indecency outside the Iowa City Public Library. He later pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent exposure and was sentenced to two years in prison.

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