Nursing home worker charged in freezing death of elderly woman

March 3, 10:12 PMChicago Crime ExaminerEric Puryear

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A worker at an Itasca nursing home has been charged with multiple counts of criminal neglect and obstruction of justice in connection with the freezing death of an elderly woman on February 5, 2009.

Heidi Leon, who is 23 years old, was indicted by a DuPage County grand jury today in connection with the death of 89 year old Sarah Wentworth.  She is charged with two counts of criminal neglect of a longterm-care resident, two counts of criminal neglect of an elderly person, and one count of obstructing justice.  Wentworth froze to death in the bitter cold of the open-air courtyard when Leon was reportedly on duty to care for her.

Wentworth's family has also filed a civil lawsuit against the nursing home, claiming negligence lead to the freezing death of the elderly woman.