Trial date set for woman accused in nursing home death

Nov. 28--MADISON TOWNSHIP -- A woman accused of causing the death of an 85-year-old resident of an assisted living facility will go to trial Jan. 8 in Lake County Common Pleas Court.

Alice Ramsey, 55, a Madison Township resident and former administrator at Hubbard Road Meadows Adult Care facility, was charged July 14 with one count of involuntary manslaughter, one count of reckless homicide and three counts of patient abuse after the death of Mary Srpan, said Lake County Common Pleas Court records.

Lake County Prosecutor Charles Coulson said Ramsey was given a continuance at an earlier date to have her trial date changed to Jan. 8.

"Ramsey is charged with involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide and patient abuse," he said. "That's all I can comment on now."

Officials with the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, which formerly licensed the Hubbard Road Meadows facility, have said that on Jan. 3, 2017 Srpan was found in her room with her head wedged into a nightstand.

Srpan was transported to a Lake County emergency room and died there Jan. 17.

Officials have previously indicated they suspected patient abuse was taking place at the facility before Srpan died and Ramsey was arrested Jan. 13 by the Madison Township Police.

After an official investigation noted Hubbard Road Meadows had experienced other incidents of neglect, failure to report deaths and falls and violations of hiring regulations, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services suspended the facility's adult care license March 30.

The facility closed soon after.

Ramsey is being represented by Ashtabula attorney William Bobulsky, who appeared in Lake County Common Pleas Court on Nov. 17. He could not be reached for comment.

The case was assigned to Judge Eugene Lucci.

If convicted, Ramsey could be sentenced to up to 18 and a half years in prison. She is currently free on personal bond.

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