Inset: Curtis Hightower III (Richmond County Sheriff’s Office). Background: Barclay Senior Living in Augusta, Georgia (Google Maps).
A temporary worker at a senior living home in Georgia was accused of causing the death of an 82-year-old resident after allegedly punching him, resulting in criminal charges being filed against him this week, according to authorities.
The individual, identified as 28-year-old Curtis Hightower III, was taken into custody on Sunday and is facing charges of exploitation of an elderly or disabled person as well as aggravated battery in connection to the incident that occurred on Jan. 5. The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and online jail records confirmed the arrest.
Local CBS and NBC affiliates WRDW and WAGT interviewed the Richmond County Coroner, who disclosed details of the tragic event. According to reports on Monday, Hightower, employed as a nursing assistant, allegedly caused the death of a resident at the Barclay Senior Living home situated on Frazier Court, where he was employed.
The victim, Harry Millard, suffered fatal injuries during the assault after falling to the ground and hitting his head. He died on Jan. 17 at a hospital.
According to police, Hightower struck Millard “with a closed fist, causing said victim to fall to the ground, where the victim’s head bounced off the floor, resulting in said victim losing consciousness.” He tried claiming that the elderly resident suffered injuries caused by a fall, but staffers determined this was a lie after reviewing security footage.
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Citing a press release obtained, WRDW and WAGT reported that the sheriff’s office described Hightower as a “temp who was hired or placed through a contracted staffing agency, Consolidated Medical Staffing.” The executive director at Barclay Senior Living, Kristen Ryan, told investigators that Hightower was hired by the facility directly through the staffing agency. He is no longer working there.
Attempts by Law&Crime to reach Consolidated Medical Staffing and Barclay Senior Living for comment on Tuesday were unsuccessful.
