Colonial Heights Nursing Home Court Records Expose Abuse Texts, Lead to Felony Charges
Virginia Colonial Heights nursing home is at the center of a growing investigation involving patient neglect, falsified medical records, medication errors, and elder abuse—with some staff now facing felony charges and one nurse accused in the death of a patient.
According to search warrants filed in Colonial Heights Circuit Court, disturbing text messages were exchanged between two Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) working at Colonial Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. One of the nurses has been charged with abuse of a vulnerable adult resulting in death. The other had a charge of falsifying records dismissed—though prosecutors say more charges and victims are expected.
Search Warrant Findings
In the text exchanges, the nurses allegedly admitted to withholding medications from nonverbal residents during med pass, with one message reading:
“The people that can’t talk didn’t get s***. So it was easy.”
Another nurse responded:
“I do the same thing sometimes… They gonna be okay.”
They also discussed giving melatonin and Tylenol to “miserable” patients and joked about not checking on residents' safety. One nurse admitted she left Zofran, a prescription medication, in her car for another nurse to pick up—raising concerns of med diversion.
Text Messages
According to search warrants, the two nurses texted about administering medication. With nurse 1 asking if nurse 2 administered medications to nonverbal patients.
- Nurse 2 replied, "Been done. The people that can’t talk didn’t get s***. So it was easy."
- Nurse 1 responded, "s*** I do the same thing sometimes. They gonna be okay. And the ones who miserable get melatonin and tylenol."
- Nurse 2 replied, "Yes, they sleep"
- Nurse 2 also asked Nurse 1 why they didn't check on that resident to make sure they were good.
- Nurse 1 responded, "to be honest I did not think much about it. I just thought it’s something you always do."
- Nurse 2 replied, "it is but it’s still risky coming back with pounds of drugs."
In a separate exchange:
- Nurse 2 texted Nurse 1, "don’t let that notty head, pepper and garlic smelling, boiled egg with legs shape b**** get to you."
- Nurse 1 responded, "😂"
- Nurse 2 replied, "send the picture."
- Nurse 1: sends image of a patient and the COVID order placed in the facility’s charting system by the medical director. This patient, who passed away, is at the center of the investigation.
Additional Alleged Conversations (from Search Warrants):
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The nurses talked about moving residents to different rooms because they were “beefing,” but told each other to note in the chart that there were "no issues."
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Investigators were also provided documentation showing that residents were billed daily for services that were never actually performed—but were still charted as completed.
Virginia Health Department Steps In
Following an investigation, the Virginia Department of Health has now barred the facility from accepting new residents. A newly released 340-page complaint outlines serious issues including:
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Medication errors
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Poor infection control
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Failure to protect residents from harm
Officials say the facility is still under investigation, and more enforcement actions may follow. Families of current residents are being urged to stay alert and informed.
Elder Abuse, False Charting, and a Patient's Death
18 staff members, including multiple nurses, were arrested in December 2024 in connection with the death of a 74-year-old woman with cerebral palsy and diabetes. According to court documents, the woman was:
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Left in her own waste for days
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Not repositioned or provided proper wound care
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Given the wrong medications, leading to sepsis and death
Charges include felony abuse, neglect of vulnerable adults, falsifying records, and obstruction of justice. Investigators say staff documented care that was never actually provided—something known as charting care you didn’t give, a dangerous and unethical practice.
The patient’s foot was also reportedly broken, and incorrect medication may have worsened her condition. An investigation revealed the facility had been billing Medicare and Medicaid for services that were never performed, suggesting possible fraud and kickbacks.
- Victim: A 74-year-old woman with cerebral palsy and diabetes.
- Allegations: The prosecutor alleged:
- Victim was left in her bed for days in her own urine and feces, not turned or changed, resulting in severe flesh wounds.
- The wounds were so severe that they allegedly caused sepsis, which ultimately led to the patient's death.
- The patient's foot was reportedly broken, and she was given incorrect medicine that "poisoned" her.
- Charges: 7 counts of felony abuse and neglect, 2 counts of misdemeanor abuse and neglect, 2 counts of obstruction, and 27 counts of falsifying patient records.
- Arrested: 16 out of 18 individuals with warrants have been arrested as of December 19, 2024. Notable individuals charged:
- Shawonda Jeter (46): Administrator of the center
- Danielle Harris (53): Nurse trainer
- Kamesha Kittrell: Director of nursing
- Shakima Brewer: Night nurse
- Facility Owner: Innovative Healthcare Management LLC owns Colonial Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center and five other facilities in Virginia. The Colonial Heights facility has a 1 out of 5 star rating according to CMS. The company’s facilities have lower staffing levels than the national average and the company ranks in the bottom 15% of nursing home chains, per CMS overall ratings.
Doctor Arrested After Patient Found Wandering
In January 2025, Dr. Gohar Abbasi, who provided care at the facility, was arrested and charged with elder abuse after allowing a high-risk patient to leave the facility against medical advice. The patient, who had multiple fractures and required constant care for colostomy bags, was later found homeless, unsteady, and MRSA-positive—dumping his colostomy waste in public.
Court documents state Dr. Abbasi declared the patient mentally competent—without performing a physical assessment—despite prior evaluation by a psychologist who found otherwise.
Nursing Leadership Under Fire
Among the staff arrested were Kamesha Kittrell, the Director of Nursing, and Shakima Brewer, a night nurse. Both were denied bond due to the seriousness of the allegations.
Kittrell is accused of falsifying staff training records and instructing staff to chart care they hadn’t given. Brewer is accused of documenting wound care that was never performed, which prosecutors say may have directly contributed to the patient’s death.
A judge described the case as “gut-wrenching, aggravating, and horrendous.”
Nurse Community Reacts
The case has drawn attention from nurses nationwide, many of whom have taken to social media to express frustration and concern over what they see as a complete breakdown of standards in long-term care.
Influential nurse voices like @The.Nurse.Erica viral videos urging fellow nurses and students to take these allegations seriously, emphasizing that “documentation is care” and warning about the legal and ethical consequences of false charting.
Who Owns the Facility?
Colonial Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center is owned by Innovative Healthcare Management LLC, which operates five other facilities in Virginia. The company’s homes have been flagged for low staffing and received 1 out of 5 stars in federal CMS ratings. CMS reports show this company ranks in the bottom 15% of nursing home operators nationally.
A Wake-Up Call for Long-Term Care
As the investigation continues, state and federal agencies are pushing for stronger safeguards in elder care. The Virginia Attorney General’s Elder Abuse Task Force and a new Elder Abuse Investigation Center have been formed to improve enforcement and collaboration between agencies.
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