Care-Home Death Prompts Manslaughter Investigation
Kona police have opened a manslaughter investigation into the death of an elderly man at a care home in Kailua-Kona.
The case involves the Aug. 15 death of 82-year-old Oscar Ramos at a care home on Haokuni Street.
County paramedics responding to a call about an unresponsive resident took Ramos to Kona Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Police said an autopsy determined that the cause of death was food in Ramos’ lungs, also known as aspiration of food.
Police said as a result of the incident, the state Department of Human Services on Sept. 24 revoked the caregiver’s care home certification.
That action, combined with consultation with the DHS agency Adult Protective Services regarding the level of care provided to Ramos, prompted the investigation, police said.
The caregiver was not identified.