On December 23, 2024, 84-year-old Alvera Meuti vanished from her room at the Avenue at Warrensville Care and Rehabilitation Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Nurse Amber Henderson checked the room at 9:30 p.m. but failed to report her missing, assuming she had left with family. Meuti had exited through an unsecured door near her room—no keypad or alarm—which locked behind her, trapping her on an outdoor patio. She was found the next morning, hypothermic and deceased upon hospital arrival.
Key Allegations in the Lawsuit
Meuti’s family filed a complaint in Cuyahoga County, naming Henderson and the facility as defendants. They claim:
- Negligent Supervision: No immediate search, family notification, or additional checks after Meuti’s absence was noted. Henderson allegedly falsified task records and only raised concerns hours later.
- Inadequate Security: The exit door was unlocked, lacking alarms or keypads required for resident safety in nursing homes.
- Staffing and Training Failures: Henderson received insufficient training (facility policy mandates 4 weeks, including missing-resident protocols and 2-hour checks). The center has a pattern of understaffing and poor training, prioritizing costs over care.
This led directly to Meuti’s exposure to freezing temperatures overnight.
Criminal Charges Against Henderson
Henderson faces felony involuntary manslaughter. Per the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s March 2025 release and Warrensville Heights Police investigation:
- She continued her shift without action until 12:36 a.m., then called the family (no answer).
- At 6:30 a.m. on December 24, she informed her supervisor, triggering a “Code Purple” (missing resident protocol).
- Police arrived around 8 a.m.; Meuti was found on the patio.
Investigators confirmed Henderson was unqualified, doors were unsecured, and protocols ignored. Her pretrial hearing is January 27, 2026; she pleads not guilty, with her attorney asserting innocence.
Broader Context on Nursing Home Regulations
Ohio requires nursing homes to secure exits with alarms or keypads to prevent elopement, especially for dementia or mobility-impaired residents (per Ohio Administrative Code 5160-3-16). Federal standards under CMS (42 CFR § 483.25) mandate adequate staffing, training, and resident safety assessments. Violations often trigger lawsuits for negligence or wrongful death, as here—families seek damages for pain, suffering, and lost care opportunities. Similar cases, like a 2023 Michigan hypothermia death, have resulted in multimillion-dollar settlements.
The facility has not commented publicly. This highlights ongoing U.S. nursing home issues: understaffing rose post-COVID, with Ohio facilities averaging 20-30% below recommended nurse hours per resident day (per 2025 CMS data).
What specific aspect—legal outcomes, similar cases, or Ohio regulations—would you like more details on?
