Caregiver sentenced in death of man left outside for hours
JONESBORO, Ga. » A caregiver in Georgia has been found guilty of murder in the death of a developmentally disabled man who was left outside for 10 hours in subfreezing temperatures.
A Clayton County jury on Thursday found 74-year-old Dale El Smith guilty of felony murder and cruelty to an elderly person. WSB-TV reports that Smith has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.
Prosecutors said Smith left her 66-year-old patient, Arthur Pelham, sitting outside for about 10 hours in subfreezing temperatures on a day in January 2014.
Authorities said Pelham was outside waiting for an adult day care service to pick him up while he was in Smith’s care. His transportation didn’t arrive because of bad weather. Smith said she thought Pelham had been picked up.