The family of an 83-year-old Florida nursing home resident has filed a wrongful death lawsuit after he allegedly wandered into a walk-in freezer and died from hypothermia.
Resident Found in Walk-In Freezer
According to the lawsuit, William “Gene” Ray, a Navy veteran with dementia, disappeared from his room at The Waverly Assisted Living and Memory Care facility in September 2025.
Family members reportedly noticed he was missing through a Ring camera and contacted the facility after staff had not realized he had left his room.
After a search, employees found Ray inside a walk-in freezer in the facility’s kitchen. He was reportedly shivering and barely conscious.
Died After Hours in Freezer
The lawsuit alleges Ray spent about four hours trapped inside the freezer after the door closed behind him.
He was taken to a hospital, where he later died from hypothermia. According to court filings, his body temperature had dropped to 66 degrees.
Family Alleges Negligence
Ray’s family claims the facility failed to properly supervise residents and secure restricted areas.
The lawsuit states that Ray had a known history of wandering due to dementia and had previously been found outside and in other residents’ rooms.
Investigators reportedly found that only one staff member was monitoring dozens of residents on the night of the incident.
Facility Disputes Claims
The family is seeking damages through a wrongful death and negligence lawsuit.
In a statement, The Waverly said it disputes the allegations and intends to defend itself in court as the legal case moves forward.
