Guilty plea in death of Pa. patient fed scalding cereal

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A former nursing home aide has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of an elderly Alzheimer’s patient who was fed scalding hot cereal last fall.

Alvador Thompson, 55, tearfully apologized in Montgomery County Court on Thursday as she entered the plea. Her attorney, Norris Gelman, says she has “a tremendous amount of remorse.”

The 79-year-old patient died two weeks after Thompson fed him Oct. 8 at the Cambridge-Brightfield Assisted Living/Hospice Care center in Hatfield Township. The coroner said the burns contributed to his death and ruled the case a homicide.

Prosecutors agreed the defendant did not intend to hurt her patient but said her actions were negligent. Thompson could be sentenced to a maximum of five years. Sentencing guidelines recommend a minimum term of three to 12 months.