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A 98-year-old woman has been charged with the murder of her 100-year-old roommate at an American nursing home.

Dementia sufferer Laura Lundquist is suspected of killing Elizabeth Barrow in their room at the Brandon Woods Nursing Home, Massachusetts.

Barrow was found dead in bed with a plastic bag tied around her head on September 24.

It was first believed to be a suicide but Lundquist was arrested after an autopsy indicated her roommate had been strangled.

She was indicted on a second degree murder charge at a court on Friday and has been sent to a state mental hospital for a competency evaluation before her arraignment.

Her defence attorney, Carl Levin, said she has a "long-standing diagnosis of dementia, as well as issues of cognitive impairment."

The alleged victim’s son, Scott Barrow, claims Lundquist had complained about the number of visitors his mother received and had made threatening and harassing remarks to her.

The two women had been roommates for about a year, despite calls by Mr Barrow to separate them.

He said his mother told him she did not want to leave her room because she had previously shared it with her husband for several years before he died in 2007.

The day his mother died, Mr Barrow claims he saw Lundquist being wheeled away from the room.

Barrow said: "She said to me, 'You're going to blame me for this ... but you're wrong’."

District Attorney Sam Sutter said Lundquist suffered from paranoia and "harboured hostility toward the victim" and thought Barrow "was taking over the room they shared."

He said that Lundquist is believed to be the oldest murder defendant in state history, but admitted the case was unlikely to ever go to trial as a result of her mental health issues.

Sutter added: "It is my intention to advance this case in a professional, ethical and humane manner."

Swear to gawd, I thought the thread title read "Windows 98 accused of killing woman, 100"

Wow, the nursing home really should have separated them sooner if they had been having problems. What a sad story

wtf

Imago said:

you kids and your computers!

UGH. Fucking America.

These women do not need roomates. They need families.


There has got to be a way to provide for the wellbeing of older Americans than to send them to these depressing places.

I'm not saying all Nursing homes are like this--I've seen some really nice ones in Florida, with activities, views of the ocean, etc. etc. But shit...This is depressing.

I was about to turn my computer off for the night and saw this on my homepage, couldn't believe it

Sounds like my Great-Grandmother.

She's driving the folks at her nursing home crazy.
[Edited 12/12/09 20:36pm]

Imago said:

In some cultures nursing homes do not exist. The elderly live with the family till they die.

Dementia is no joke, really.


I know sometimes it can be a huge toll on families to take care of their elders, but nursing homes scare the living shit out of me. My maternal grandmother may have to go into a care unit soon, and even though I know that's what may be best for her it's really not an idea I'm comfortable with.

She's already serving life in prison..what can they really do to her?..Wonder if the nursing home will get sued for not seperating them sooner

SavonOsco said:

really

Imago said:

...hole on nucca....

poor ole ladies. imagine living to 100 only to get murdered in your bed by your roommate. imagine being 98 and possibly spending the rest of your life in a mental institution or prison for something you probably don't even remember doing.

does sound sad tho...people should know how to take care of them.

Imago said:

oooh stop! LOL


Back on Topic:

Damn. I just...wow...

DesireeNevermind said:

seriously!
I know!!!
my granny will be 100 next Monday, she lives by herself still at the farm she has lived in her whole life.

That's just sad.
[Edited 12/13/09 18:30pm]