Elderly woman dies of hypothermia outside Ohio nursing home

OHIO — Warrensville Heights police are investigating the death of an 84-year-old woman who died of hypothermia after going missing from a skilled nursing facility on Christmas Eve.

According to multiple reports, Alvera Meuti was found unresponsive on the patio of the Avenue at Warrensville Care & Rehabilitation Center around 7:30 a.m. on Dec. 24, about 10 hours after she was last seen inside the facility.

According to a police report, Meuti was last observed by a nurse at 8:40 p.m. on Dec. 23.

The nurse reported that Meuti appeared “normal” and was sitting in her wheelchair at the time.

Shortly after, a second nurse took over and noticed Meuti was missing from her room at 9:30 p.m.

However, the nurse did not notify anyone, assuming Meuti was visiting her brother.

Facility visitor logs indicated no visitors had arrived for Meuti.

The nurse attempted to call Meuti’s brother multiple times around 12:30 a.m. but received no answer. She later told police that, as a new staff member, she was unsure how to proceed.

At 6:30 a.m., the nurse informed a colleague that Meuti was missing.

A “Code Purple” alert was issued to search the building and notify authorities.

An officer arrived around 7:30 a.m. and heard screams from the patio.

Nurses led him outside, where they found Meuti lying on her back, unresponsive and cold to the touch. She was transported to South Pointe Hospital and pronounced dead.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner determined her cause of death was environmental exposure with hypothermia.

Facility administrators told police that their security cameras only monitor common areas, and their alarmed doors do not notify staff when triggered.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.