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Conviction
seen as message
to care homes

The state hopes the case
will be a warning to others
who operate such facilities
to care for the elderly

---

By Rosemarie Bernardo
Star-Bulletin

The state is hoping the conviction of care home operator Raquel Bermisa for manslaughter will serve as a warning to other people who abuse the elderly.

"We hope that there will be heightened public awareness of this problem," said Deputy Attorney General Michael Parrish. "We simply want people to be aware of potential serious consequences if proper care is not made for elders."

"We certainly don't want to lose any members of the community if it can be avoided by taking simple steps to care for them," he said.

In what's believed to a precedent-setting case, a Circuit Court jury found Bermisa guilty of manslaughter in the death of 79-year old Chiyeko Tanouye.

The prosecution argued that untreated bedsores, described as the size of a fist, led to complications that killed Tanouye.

Bermisa's attorney, William Harrison, said he was disappointed at the verdict and has not decided whether to appeal the case.

"I was expecting the evidence clearly showed that she did not have any desire to have this lady die," said Harrison. "Although she could have taken her to the doctor sooner, she wasn't aware that the bed sores were life threatening," he said.

"She thought they were healing."

Bermisa originally pleaded no contest to manslaughter by omission in March and was facing one year in prison.

But she withdrew her plea and, with a new lawyer, decided to go to trial.

Bermisa now faces up to 20 years in prison. Her sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 19.

Bermisa is free on $10,000 bail. A bail hearing was set for Tuesday.