Former St. Elizabeth Healthcare caregivers indicted for alleged abuse incident involving patient


NKyTribune staff

Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear and the Office of Medical Fraud have indicted four former St. Elizabeth Healthcare caregivers on charges of one count of knowingly abusing or neglecting an adult, a Class C felony.

The charges stem from an incident in July, 2015.

St. Elizabeth Edgewood (file photo)

Three of those indicted, Ellyssa Klein, 26, of Fort Myers, Florida, Sandra Nobbe, 28, of Florence, and Ashley Flower, 30, of Cincinnati are charged with improperly restraining a patient, which included placing a therapy bag on the patient to restrict movement.

Gary Ray, 71, of Cincinnati, is accused of observing the alleged abuse and neglect and failing to stop the actions.

St. Elizabeth Healthcare issued a statement saying those involved were removed from patient care functions, pending an investigation, when the incident came to light in the summer of 2015.

St. Elizabeth states it is cooperating in the investigation and that all of those involved have since left the employ of St. Elizabeth Healthcare.

The Office of the Attorney General issued the following statement:

“Attorney General Andy Beshear and his Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse today announced the indictment of four caregivers at St. Elizabeth Healthcare Edgewood Campus for alleged abuse of a patient.

Ellyssa Klein, 26, of Fort Myers, Florida; Sandra Nobbe, 28, of Florence; Ashley Flower, 30, of Cincinnati; and Gary Ray, 71, of Cincinnati, have each been charged with one count of knowingly abusing or neglecting an adult, a Class C felony. 

A Kenton County grand jury indicted the four individuals Thursday, Sept. 20.

The indictment alleges that between July 1-2, 2015, Klein, Nobbe and Flower improperly restrained a patient, which included placing a therapy bag on the patient to act as a weight to restrict his movement. Ray, who was also acting as a caregiver at the time of the incident, observed the abuse and neglect, but failed to stop the actions.

Arraignment is scheduled in Kenton Circuit Court Oct. 1, 2018, for all four individuals.

Beshear’s Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse; the Edgewood Police Department; and the Department for Community Based Services, Adult Protective Services, investigated this case. Medicaid Fraud and Abuse is prosecuting the case.

The Attorney General’s tip line for reporting allegations of abuse, neglect or exploitation is 877-ABUSE-TIP (877-228-7384). Reports can be made to Adult Protective Services by calling 800-752-6200. 

Complaints involving a nursing home can be made by contacting the Office of the Inspector General, who is responsible for licensing nursing homes, by calling 502-564-7963.”

The statement from St. Elizabeth Healthcare regarding the incident:

“When the matter first came to light in the summer of 2015, St. Elizabeth immediately removed the four individuals from patient care functions, pending the outcome of the investigation. Since that time, all four of the individuals have left the employ of St. Elizabeth.

 St. Elizabeth has cooperated fully with law enforcement in this matter.

 St. Elizabeth demands the highest standards from its patient caregivers, and fully respects the rights and dignity of its patients.” 


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