Three adult home care workers charged in the death of an Omaha man with developmental disabilities

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Three people are charged with abuse of a vulnerable adult following an investigation into the death of a 44-year-old man earlier this year at a residential care center for adults with developmental disabilities.

Duet supervisor Sam Breakfield Jr., 58, and employees Lisa Valentine, also 58, and Lisa Felix, 61, were arrested on class 3A misdemeanor charges for the death of Zachary Hunter.

Court documents filed earlier this month show that Hunter’s parents were not contacted about their son’s deteriorating health at any time in the days leading up to his death.

Around 1 a.m. on Monday, April 29, Hunter was found unresponsive on the floor of his bedroom in a home near 63rd Street and Whitmore Street, northwest of 60th Street and Sorensen Parkway. Court documents filed Oct. 8 show Hunter has the mental capacity of a 10-year-old and cannot care for himself. According to those records, the investigation took several months in part because subpoenas had to be issued for medical staff notes called “T-logs.”

An autopsy performed on April 30 revealed that Hunter died of E. coli sepsis due to a perforation in his colon. Sepsis, often called blood poisoning, requires prompt treatment.

Hunter had been diagnosed with – and was taking various medications for – irritable bowel syndrome and depression. Records also showed he had not eaten a meal since the previous Friday. He had gone to work that day as per his usual routine, but had gone home early when he felt unwell.

According to court records, investigators determined that Hunter continued to complain of not feeling well throughout the weekend, reporting that he had extreme stomach pains and had been nauseous, dizzy and sweaty — but would not take his medication or eat. His symptoms escalated and he began vomiting and “pounding” in his bedroom, crying and screaming – but he still wouldn’t take medication or have his temperature taken, and he refused to go to the hospital.

Felix, one of the Duet employees who cared for Hunter, told investigators that it was not unusual for him to cry and scream throughout the night. She also said she was advised by Duet’s medical support staff to contact Hunter’s doctor about his condition Monday morning, according to court documents. T-logs also confirmed that she contacted medical support staff about Hunter’s condition Sunday evening and was told to continue trying to get him to eat or take his medications.

Felix then contacted Valentine, who came to the house to help. Upon arrival, Valentine contacted Breakfield, her supervisor, who informed her that Hunter had the right to refuse treatment. She passed that information on to Felix, created a T-log with a note stating the same on Monday, April 29 at 12:18 p.m., and then left the residence.

At 1:04 a.m. on April 29, Felix called 911 after hearing a loud “boom” and finding him on the floor of his room. Hunter was pronounced dead at the home by Omaha Fire medics at 1:16 a.m

Records show no T-logs were submitted for Hunter at any time on Saturday, April 27.

The three Duet employees made their first appearances in Douglas County Court: Felix and Valentine appeared in court Friday afternoon; Breakfield’s court appearance was Thursday.

All three have been released on their own recognizance and preliminary hearings are scheduled for December 4.

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