New-Grad Nurse Faces Felony After Wheelchair-Bound Patient Found Dead on Patio

Updated 2/20/25

Amber Henderson, a 31-year-old nurse at the Avenue at Warrensville Care and Rehabilitation Center, has been charged in connection with the death of 84-year-old patient Alvera Meuti. Henderson faces a third-degree felony charge of involuntary manslaughter, along with misdemeanor charges of tampering with records and gross patient neglect.

Timeline of Events

• December 23, 2024, 8:40 p.m.: Staff last observed Meuti in her room during routine medication administration.
• 9:30 p.m.: Henderson, assigned to Meuti's care starting at 9:00 p.m., noticed the patient was missing but assumed she was with her brother. No immediate report was made.
• December 24, 2024, 6:30 a.m.: Henderson reported Meuti missing to colleagues, prompting a "code purple" alert. Minutes later, Meuti was found unresponsive on an outdoor patio. Attempts to revive her were unsuccessful, and she was pronounced dead at South Pointe Hospital.

Investigation Findings

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner determined Meuti's cause of death as hypothermia due to prolonged exposure. During the investigation, Henderson disclosed she was a recent nursing graduate with approximately eight weeks of orientation—30 days on day shifts and two weeks on night shifts—before assuming full responsibilities. Standard orientation programs typically range from six to 12 weeks.

Henderson's initial court appearance was conducted via video at Bedford Municipal Court, where her bond was set at $2,500. The case has been forwarded to a Cuyahoga County grand jury for further review.

An 84-year-old woman was found unresponsive outside the Avenue Warrensville Care and Rehabilitation Center in Warrensville Heights, Ohio, on Christmas Eve 2024. The elderly resident, who was wheelchair-bound and admitted for physical rehabilitation on December 18, was last seen by a nurse at 8:40 p.m. on December 23.

Police asked for security footage but were told cameras were only in common areas and do not show the woman’s disappearance.

Local affiliate Fox8 received a statement from an official at the Avenue Warrensville Care and Rehabilitation Center:

The gap between when the woman was last seen and when she was found unresponsive outside the facility is a matter of significant concern. Nursing homes typically have protocols in place for regular resident checks, particularly for those with cognitive impairments or mobility issues. In addition, the time gap between a nurse finding the woman missing and initiating a ‘Code Purple’ is also potentially troublesome.

While the incident has been reported, the specific identity of the 84-year-old woman has not been disclosed to respect the privacy of the deceased and her family, despite some reports identifying the woman as Luvenia Gill, who passed away on January 3, 2025.

In the wake of this incident, local authorities and nursing home administrators will conduct thorough investigations to identify any lapses in protocol or areas where improvements can be made to prevent similar incidents in the future at this nursing home and others.

We will continue to update this article as more information becomes available.

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