Wendy Marie Donaldson will not face a jury trial in the death of group home resident Carol Christie.
Donaldson, an Ortonville resident, pled no contest to involuntary manslaughter on Nov. 8 in front of Sixth Judicial Circuit Court Judge John J. McDonald. A vulnerable adult abuse charge was dismissed.
The plea was made under the Cobbs Agreement, which allows a defendant to ask a judge, through an attorney, to agree to cap a sentence. In Donaldson’s case, McDonald agreed to a one-year sentence, within the guideline range, but with the balance to be suspended after serving 90 days. Donaldson will also have at least three years probation.
‘This was a very difficult decision for Wendy and her family,? said her attorney, Bradley Stout. ‘She has a 3-year-old son and I know it was important to have a result that allows her to take care of him… I’m pleased she has a result she can live with. I would have liked to have seen the case go to trial and her be acquitted, because I certainly think that is a possibility. You never know what will happen with a jury, and the sentence could have been more severe than it is.?
If convicted in a jury trial, Donaldson could have faced 15 years in prison.
Donaldson, now 26, 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 while working alone during the time of the incident.
‘I think this entire situation is a travesty and a tragedy,? said Oakland County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Denise Brainard. ‘I think it’s unfortunate that there aren’t more checks and balances in the system (for group homes) and those are things that need to be addressed… I would have liked to have seen (Donaldson) receive more (jail) time, but taking all factors into consideration and this was a grossly negligent act on her part, we’re looking at trying to prevent this from happening to someone ever again.?
Sentencing is set for Jan. 8. Donaldson is currently out on bond.