A 98-year-old nursing home resident has been indicted on a second-degree murder charge by a Massachusetts grand jury for strangling her 100-year-old roommate
When thinking of nursing homes, one thinks of the elderly sleeping, socializing, playing games of backgammon and just killing time until their final leap. However, you would never think that the elderly would kill their fellow nursing home roommates.
Laura Lundquist, a 98-year-old Massachusetts nursing home resident, was indicted on Friday for the murder of 100-year-old Elizabeth Barrow, according to CNN. Lundquist and Barrow were roommates at the Brandon Woods Nursing Home in Dartmouth. Lundquist had murdered Barrow after the two had an argument over Lundquist’s placement of a table in front of Barrow’s bed.
The Associated Press reports that Lundquist will be evaluated for competency at the state mental hospital.
Barrow had complained that the table created trouble for her when she had to go to the bathroom. When a nurse’s aide had placed the table in another part of the room, Lundquist punched the aide and stated that Barrow “might as well have the whole room.”
On September 24, Barrow was found dead with a plastic shopping bag tied loosely around her head, however, after autopsy, the Bristol County district attorney’s office indicated that she had been strangled.
Scott Barrow, the victim’s son, said, notes The Age, that Lundquist made threatening remarks to his mother and said she would outlive Barrow. Also, on several occasions, nursing home officials gaveLundquist the chance to switch rooms or roommates but she declined each time
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Lundquist’s lawyer, Carl Levin, said, “We maintain her innocence.”
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