Nurse, 70, Gets Prison Time for Refusing to Suction Patient’s Tracheostomy, Causing Death

A licensed practical nurse in Iowa has been sentenced to two years in prison after refusing to provide essential care that led to a patient's death. According to a lawsuit filed by the family, the nursing director told Manning to "watch a video and figure it out.”

About The Case

In February 2023, 87-year-old Marvin "Pete" Jacobs died of asphyxiation while in the care of Becky Sue Manning, a 70-year-old LPN working at Fonda Specialty Care nursing home in Pocahontas County, Iowa. According to court documents, Manning refused to suction Jacobs' tracheostomy tube despite the patient's own requests and recommendations from at least four staff members.

"At least four staff members told investigators the patient required – and had even requested – suctioning of his throat, but Manning refused. The patient then suffocated to death," reported Northwest Iowa Now.

The death certificate listed the cause of death as a heart attack caused by hypoxia (lack of oxygen), not only asphyxiation.

Manning, who was working as a temporary nurse at the facility, had reportedly informed the director of nursing earlier that evening that she was unwilling or unable to perform the necessary suctioning procedure. 

The consequences of this negligence were swift and severe. 

Key details include: 

• In March 2024, Manning was charged with wanton neglect of a resident of a care facility. 
• The Iowa Board of Nursing suspended her nursing license during the investigation. 
• In January 2025, Manning entered an Alford plea, maintaining her innocence while acknowledging prosecutors had sufficient evidence to convict her. Manning did not admit guilt but acknowledged there was enough evidence to convict her.
• On April 21, 2025, a judge sentenced Manning to two years in prison and ordered her to pay an $855 fine plus court costs. 
• The nursing home where the incident occurred, Fonda Specialty Care, was fined $6,500 by state regulators. The facility was initially fined $10,000, which was reduced to $6,500 due to lack of appeal.
• The family’s lawsuit is ongoing and names multiple parties, including the facility’s corporate owners, the assistant director of nursing, Manning, and the staffing agency.

Nurse.org will continue to update this article as the legal proceedings continue with the family's lawsuit against both Manning and the facility.

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