Alleged elder abuse in a Watsonville care home led to one man’s death; Attorney General Rob Bonta

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) -- California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office received a complaint from the Superior Court of the State of California in Santa Cruz that two people committed an act of alleged felony elder abuse that led to the death of 88-year-old dementia patient Andrew Hegarty.

Attorney General Bonta's office announced Wednesday the charge and arrest of Rose Garden Residential Care Home facility in Watsonville's owner as well as one employee, Candie Gomez Rogers and Librada Gomez Najera.
 
“Elders deserve care, respect and protection,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Those who are responsible for the care of elderly and dependent adults carry a profound duty to ensure their safety and well-being."

According to Attorney General Bonta's office, the alleged crime took place mid-November 2022 when Hegarty was discovered already dead after he left Rose Garden due to the staff member responsible for his care falling asleep.

The Attorney General's office says that Hegarty was only dressed in a t-shirt and diaper, and "wandered" 0.4 miles away from the home care facility, allegedly dying from cold exposure.

According to the report, staff discovered the victim was missing around 1 a.m., but did not call 911 until 6:10 a.m. Then, "at 6 a.m. on November 14, 2022, Staff S2 and Licensee’s Family Member F1 went to look for R1 [Hegarty] around the neighborhood and found R1 lying deceased in a driveway," wrote the report.

KION has reached out to Rose Garden but the phone number was disconnected. Google says that the facility has been temporarily closed.

The complaint that came across Attorney General Bonta's desk was dated January 24, 2025 and the official announcement was made Wednesday. An investigation into the event was conducted in 2023.

This is a developing story and will be updated as KION receives more details.