Three employees at Golden Age Nursing Home in Guthrie, Oklahoma, have been sentenced to prison after they filmed themselves abusing elderly residents and mocking a deceased patient. The disturbing videos were discovered on Snapchat after a former employee alerted authorities.
Sentences and Charges
Jade Williams, 23, was sentenced to 12 years behind bars, while McKenzie Bolfa, 22, and Aubrey Granata, 23, each received 10-year sentences. All three pleaded guilty to elder abuse and conspiracy charges. The abuse came to light when a former colleague reported receiving a video from Williams showing Bolfa twisting the pubic hair of a motionless female patient.
Details of the Abuse
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, the video was captioned “give me a mohawk” as Williams filmed the incident and Granata laughed in the background. Police noted the patient was nude from the waist down and lying motionless. When questioned, Bolfa claimed she was cleaning fecal matter and that the patient was joking with her, but investigators dismissed these explanations.
Guthrie Police Chief Don Sweger told NBC: “They had excuses for some of their behavior, but it didn't really match up with the evidence that we had uncovered.”
Additional Evidence Found
A search of the suspects’ phones revealed more disturbing content, including videos of patients using the bathroom, a close-up of a resident’s genitals, and footage exposing a woman’s breasts. Detectives also found a photo of Bolfa lying on a bed next to a dead patient, mimicking the corpse’s facial expression with her mouth wide open.
Chief Sweger described the footage as “probably one of the saddest thing,” adding: “We take service to everybody very responsibly, but especially for those who don't have a voice for themselves.”
Nursing Home Response
Golden Age Nursing Home released a statement saying: “Golden Age Nursing Home endeavors to ensure the safety and well-being of its residents. Upon receiving information related to certain allegations against its employees, the facility began working with local law enforcement and other appropriate authorities to respond. The employees involved had cleared background checks, were educated related to resident's rights/safety and have been terminated from employment. We are committed to protecting the privacy and safety of the residents and families involved and will continue to keep them updated with any developments related to this matter.”
