Colonial Heights nursing home 'cooperating fully' in elder-abuse

COLONIAL HEIGHTS – The nursing home where 18 employees face a variety of charges related to elder-abuse allegations that led to a former resident’s death is vowing to “cooperate fully” with the investigation.

Colonial Heights Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, where five of the 18 were arrested by authorities Dec. 18, released its first statement since that day. The three-sentence statement was short on specifics due to the ongoing probe, but it promised to while simul work with the investigators while simultaneously carrying on with day-to-day business.

“We are focused, as always, on the care of our residents. Their well-being remains first and foremost,” read the statement, released by a public-relations firm representing the center. “We are not at liberty to speak to the allegations as the investigation is ongoing and are cooperating fully with authorities.”

Colonial Heights Police, along with state Department of Health authorities and the Virginia attorney general’s Elder Abuse Task Force, raided the Ellerslie Avenue nursing home Wednesday. Along with arrest warrants, they also had search warrants for additional information.

Five employees, including the nursing home’s director, were arrested on the spot.

The investigation stemmed from the Oct. 5 discharge of a 73-year-old woman who, according to her family, showed signs of abuse and neglect. Shortly after investigators became involved, the woman died.

Charges range from falsifying records and obstructing the legal process – all misdemeanors – to more serious felony counts of abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults, Colonial Heights Police said in announcing the investigation.

Updates on those arrested

On Thursday, five of the suspects were arraigned in Colonial Heights General District Court, including the center’s director, Shawanda Jeter.

Jeter, 46, of Richmond, faces one count of abuse and neglect of a vulnerable adult resulting in death, one count of abuse and neglect of a vulnerable adult resulting in injury, two counts of abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults, and one count of resisting and obstructing the legal process. She is currently being held at Riverside Regional Jail in Prince George County.

Danielle Cline Harris, 53, of Disputanta, also faces a count of abuse and neglect resulting in death and also is being held at Riverside. Both Harris and Jeter are due back in General District Court on March 26, 2025.

Christine Gentry, 33, of Franklin, is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 23 to answer five counts of falsifying patient records. She was released on her own recognizance.

Danyell Berberich, 48, of Dinwiddie County, and Katiema Booker, 32, of Petersburg, will also be in court Dec. 23 for one count each of falsifying records.

The remaining suspects

Meanwhile, arrests have been made of 11 of the remaining 13 suspects:

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Kamesha Michelle Kittrell, of Richmond, was arraigned Friday on two counts of abuse and neglect resulting in death and one count of abuse and neglect causing injury. She remains in custody at Riverside with her next court appearance being Dec. 30.

Shakima Franklin Brewer, of Richmond, was arraigned Friday on one count of abuse and neglect resulting in death, and five counts of falsifying records. Brewer, now in custody at Riverside, is set to return to court March 26, 2025.

Monica Pickering-Harris, of Prince George, will be arraigned Dec. 23 on one count of falsifying records.

Miracle Kendra Austin, of Midlothian, will be arraigned Dec. 23 on two counts of falsifying records.

Voncelia Delores White, of Hopewell, will be arraigned Jan. 8 on two counts of falsifying records.

Ashley Webb, of Disputanta, will be arraigned Dec. 23 on one count of falsifying records.

Shacary Marie Faison, of Hopewell, will be arraigned Dec. 23 on one count of falsifying records.

Paola Andrea Ho-Arias, of Colonial Heights, will be arraigned Dec. 23 on two counts of falsifying records.

Nichole Overfield, of Colonial Heights, will be arraigned Dec. 23 on one count of falsifying records.

Lakisha Renee Young-Johnson, of Richmond, will be arraigned Dec. 23 on one count of falsifying records.

Rochelle Elaine Allen, of Glen Allen, will be arraigned Dec. 23 on two counts of falsifying records.

All have been released on bond or recognizance.

Warrants remain pending for the final two suspects, identified as Paulette Landes and Rugiati Contech. Landes was charged with resisting or obstructing the legal process, and Contech was charged with two counts of falsifying records.

Colonial Heights Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, a 196-bed facility, is owned by Henrico County-based Innovative Healthcare Management LLC. The company also owns Wonder City Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Hopewell, two sites in Richmond and one in the southwestern Virginia town of Chilhowie.

Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BAtkinson_PI.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Colonial Heights nursing home releases statement on elder-abuse probe

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