MIAMI – Family members have hired an attorney after discovering a decomposing body. Loved by a 71-year-old One of the items was found in a closet at a North Miami nursing home.
In an exclusive interview with CBS News Miami, family attorney Philip Gold said he has already taken action in the case and filed a notice of wrongful death claim, the first step in the legal process.
Family members said they sought Gold’s help in uncovering the truth after the death of Erin Etienne, a former chef who emigrated to the United States from Haiti more than 30 years ago and suffered from dementia after two strokes. Etienne had only been a short resident at North Dade Nursing and Rehabilitation Center before going missing.
Family members said they received an anonymous call informing them that she had gone missing and her body was found in a closet on August 22. Despite repeated enquiries, they said they have received no response from the nursing home.
CBS News Miami
“I want justice for my father,” Edeline Etienne, Etienne’s only child, said as she fought back tears. “I can’t believe he died like that. It’s horrible.”
“I want to know how he ended up in the closet. I want to know if he was locked in the closet and if he’s fighting for his life,” said Etienne’s niece, Livry Bruce.
“This could happen to anyone. It could happen to your family. So I don’t want this to happen again,” she said.
“There may have been some staff misconduct,” Gold said. “We don’t know for sure what went wrong, but what happened is unacceptable. There was clearly negligence on the part of the supervisor.”
“The family is trying to communicate,” Gold said. “They’re reaching out, but they’re not really getting the answers they need.”
“How could he be missing for 12 days and then left to die and rot in a closet in a nursing home? This man and this family deserve dignity,” he said.
CBS News Miami reached out to the nursing home on Wednesday but did not receive a return call.
The care center released a statement last week, with administrator Stephanie Peña saying, “We are committed to the health, well-being and safety of our residents. Our team is working with the appropriate authorities.”
She said her team are “compassionate caregivers.”
The Health and Medical Care Administration, which regulates such facilities, said in a statement that it is committed to the health and safety of all residents but could not comment on the matter.
CBS News Miami also reached out to North Miami police, who said they could not comment at this time due to the ongoing investigation.
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Peter Dontsch
