Iowa nursing home employee, 30, charged with death of 77-year-old retired social worker, ‘she went to FREEZE to death outside dementia facility in -9F weather’
- Katherine Forkpa was charged with abuse of addicted adults and willful reckless abuse following the death of Lynn Harriet Stewart on January 21st.
- Forkpa was a 30-year-old employee of Courtyard Estates at Hawthorne Crossing at the time of Stewart’s death.
- Polk County deputies said she died of hypothermia after being found in sub-zero temperatures and later died at a nearby hospital.
- The lowest temperature recorded that morning was -9 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Forkpa is on $100,000 bail, according to online prison records.
An Iowa nursing home worker has been charged with leaving a 77-year-old retired social worker in the care to die outside in -9F temperatures.
Catherine Forkpa, a 30-year-old employee of Courtyard Estates in Hawthorne Crossing, was charged with abuse of dependent adults and willful reckless abuse following the death of Lynn Harriet Stewart, 77, on January 21.
Polk County deputies said Stewart, a widowed mother of one and grandmother of one, died of hypothermia after being found outside of a facility that cares for adults with dementia in sub-zero temperatures. She later died at a nearby hospital, according to the KCCI.
More details about how Stewart ended up outside and how long she was there before her death were not released.
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Katherine Forkpa, an employee at Courtyard Estates, was charged with abuse of dependent adults and willful reckless abuse following the death of Lynn Harriet Stewart on January 21.
Lynn Harriet Stewart, 77, pictured, died of hypothermia after being left outside in freezing temperatures while in the care of a Courtyard Estates nursing home worker.
The lowest temperature recorded that morning was -9 degrees Fahrenheit.
Stewart lived in a nursing home where people with dementia live.
Stewart’s online obituary reads: “In 1971, she became the mother of her daughter, Sarah Jane Gwynn. She later met and married her husband Harry Stewart. Together with family and friends, they enjoyed many camping adventures, trips, races and made unforgettable memories.”
The tribute continued: “During her career, Lynn worked in Iowa as a social worker helping families in need. In her free time, Lynn enjoyed spending time with those she loved, planting beautiful gardens, listening to music, and reading novels. We will miss Lynn’s unconditional love, her indomitable spirit, beautiful smile, attentive listener, banter and wit.”
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office initially deemed the death “suspicious,” according to the publication.
In 2020, a nursing facility was fined $1,500 for not having a policy or procedure for their alarm system, reports from the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals show.
Pictured: Courtyard Manor at Hawthorne Crossing, where Stuart lived until her death under the care of her nurse, Katherine Forkpa.
However, a year later, the 2021 report found the facility to be compliant.
The results of an investigation by the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals shortly after Stewart’s death had not yet been released as of Sunday.
Based on online jail records, Forkpa is on $100,000 bail.