Former nursing home workers have turned themselves in for charges related to the deaths of 12 residents during Hurricane Irma.
Former Hollywood Hills administrator Jorge Carballo and Sergo Colin, the head nurse on duty during the hurricane, are expected to face 12 counts of manslaughter, their lawyers told CBS Miami. Up to two other nurses are expected to face less serious charges.
Lawyers for the former employees said evidence will show that the employees “did everything they could” during the hurricane.
“We believe that when the evidence comes out it will show that the staff at Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills was dedicated to their roles as caretakers and did everything they could under the emergency disaster circumstances after the hurricane,” lead defense attorney David Frankel told the television station.
Lawrence Hashish, a lawyer representing one of the nurses, told the station that “the real crime is that the state is looking to blame selfless caregivers” and “evidence will show no crimes were committed.”
A total of 14 residents died at the facility, in Hollywood, FL, after the storm knocked out the facility’s power and air conditioning in September 2017. Twelve of those deaths were ruled homicides.
The 152-bed facility’s license has since been suspended and revoked.
