A Texas assisted living facility and two of its top executives are facing criminal charges after a 73-year-old disabled woman froze to death during the devastating 2021 winter storm, prosecutors announced.
According to the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, Harvest Renaissance – Austin, LLC, along with Executive Director Mendi Ramsay and Wellness Director Rochelle Alvarado, have been indicted on charges of injury to an elderly person in connection with the death of Cynthia Pierce.
On February 17, 2021, as Winter Storm Uri crippled Texas with record-breaking cold, widespread power outages, and deadly conditions, Pierce was left in an unheated room with open windows at the Renaissance Austin Assisted Living Facility. Authorities allege staff failed to move her to a warmer area of the facility — despite having a heated section readily available.
Pierce, who was described as “elderly and disabled,” was eventually rushed to a hospital, but it was too late. She died of hypothermia. Her body temperature had dropped to just 94 degrees when she arrived at the ER, according to her family.
Prosecutors say the facility’s leadership not only failed to properly care for Pierce but also failed to notify Texas Health and Human Services about their power outage during the storm — a violation of state regulations.
“The staff’s conduct was authorized by high-level managerial agents,” the indictment alleges, pointing directly at Ramsay and Alvarado.
Pierce’s daughter, Holly Ferguson, slammed the facility, saying her mother’s death was entirely preventable. “Harvest misrepresented themselves as a licensed care facility, able to provide care rooted in dignity, safety, and compassion. Their misrepresentation and their gross negligence led directly to my Mom’s death,” Ferguson said.
“My mom was left alone and freezing, and it shouldn’t have happened,” she added. “We hope this criminal case will force Harvest to take responsibility for their failings and make permanent changes so this never happens again.”
Attorneys for Ramsay and Alvarado deny wrongdoing, saying their clients will plead not guilty. The company’s attorney also released a statement expressing sympathy for the Pierce family but declined further comment on the charges.
Winter Storm Uri devastated Texas, leaving millions without power and causing hundreds of deaths across the state. For Pierce’s family, prosecutors say, justice has been a long time coming. Ramsay and Alvarado are set to appear in court Wednesday, and the family has also filed a civil lawsuit against the facility.
Finding a care facility for elderly infirm family members that will really take care of them is difficult . The problem is finding staff with the attitude required for the wages offered .
That is murder