The trial of Wendy Marie Donaldson on charges of involuntary manslaughter and vulnerable adult abuse in the death of Carol Christie, will begin at 8:30 a.m., Nov. 16, in front of Sixth Judicial Circuit Court Judge John J. McDonald, 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Bldg. #12 East, Pontiac.
‘She negligently performed her duties by leaving a profoundly mentally retarded woman in her care alone in the bathtub for an extended period of time,? said Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Denise Brainard. ‘I expect the evidence to support that.?
Donaldson, a 25-year-old Ortonville resident, was working at a group home in the 7000 block of Oakhill Road on the evening of May 11. She placed Christie, a 66-year-old severely mentally and physically disabled resident, into the bathtub at about 7:15 p.m., according to a special investigations report from the Michigan Department of Human Services.
In the report, Donaldson stated she left Christie in the bathtub and would return to check on her every 10 minutes. The other staff member on duty left at about 8:15 p.m.
At about 8:27 p.m., Brandon deputies responded to a call to the home owned by Living Alternatives for the Developmentally Disabled, and, according to police reports, found Brandon firefighters performing CPR on Christie and attempting to calm a hysterical Donaldson.
Christie was transported to Genesys Regional Medical Center where on May 13 she was removed from a ventilator and died. An autopsy revealed the cause of death was anoxic encephalopathy caused by near drowning.
The MHDS investigative report found two violations relating to Christie’s death? staffing requirements and resident protection. The report notes that Donaldson attempted to bathe two residents simultaneously on May 11 while working alone during the time of the incident.
‘It was certainly an unfortunate accident,? said Bradley Stout, Donaldson’s attorney. ‘Wendy Donaldson was left alone in a group home that was supposed to be staffed by two caregivers. Shortly before this happened, another caregiver left and went home knowing that Wendy was trying to give Carol a bath and attend to five other residents. The group home has basically been given a slap on the wrist and no criminal charges have been brought against anyone else.?
If convicted, Donaldson faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.