Alzheimer's patient dies after nursing home fight

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP/WANE) -- Authorities say an 88-year-old Alzheimer's patient died after an altercation with another patient at Fort Wayne nursing home, Summit City Nursing and Rehabilitation.

The Allen County Coroner's Office said Thursday that Betty Riley died Dec. 13 from injuries she suffered more than a week earlier when she was possibly pushed by another elderly resident and her head hit the floor.

Riley was treated at a local hospital and released back to the nursing facility, where she later died.

The office says Riley suffered a blot clot to her brain from the fall. The Journal Gazette reports ( http://bit.ly/rK7MUU ) the other patient involved also has dementia.

The coroner's office ruled Riley's death a homicide because it was caused by another person. Its findings have been forwarded to the county prosecutor's office for review, but that does not necessarily mean that a criminal element exists.

Riley’s death was ruled the 23 ^rd homicide for Fort Wayne and Allen County and 2011.

Information from: The Journal Gazette, http://www.journalgazette.net