Rebecca Zeni, 93, Died at Nursing Home Due to Untreated Scabies Infection

In May 2018, a forensic pathologist revealed a Georgia nursing home patient died from an untreated scabies infection. He found millions of parasitic mites destroying the woman’s skin and essentially, eating her alive. He listed her cause of death as “septicemia due to crusted scabies.” The woman, 93-year-old Rebecca Zeni died from the infection in 2015.

Years of Scabies Infections

The mites likely survived underneath Zeni’s skin for months or possibly years. State health officials were notified of a scabies outbreak at the nursing home on multiple occasions. The health officials never inspected the LaFayette, Georgia facility despite the notifications of the outbreak.

Mrs. Zeni moved into the care facility, Shepherd Hills Nursing Home, in 2010. She suffered from dementia. The Shepherd Hills Nursing Home had received numerous complaints of health violations over the years.

Zeni Lived "The American Dream"

In her younger days, Zeni lived what her daughter described as the “American dream,” working in a naval yard during World War II and as a model in New York City. She also spent time working at a news station in Chicago alongside Mike Wallace before she married and became a stay-at-home mom.

Zeni passed away on June 2, 2015. She contracted scabies at the facility in 2013. Her daughter was told the rash on her mother’s skin had been taken care of. At the time, she had no idea it was scabies. Yet, hospital workers did nothing to treat the infection nor provide Mrs. Zeni the treatment and care she needed.

“I would seriously consider calling this a homicide by neglect,” said Dr. Kris Sperry, the chief medical examiner at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Lawsuit Filed Against Pruitt Health

Mrs. Zeni’s daughter filed a lawsuit against Pruitt Health on behalf of her mother. However, the outcome of this civil lawsuit is unknown.

At least 35 patients at the facility developed a scabies infection at the facility between 2013 and 2015. Reports made to the state went unanswered. Rather than inspect the facility, health department workers sent the nursing home a manual detailing how to deal with a scabies outbreak. It’s unclear if anyone opened the manual or used information contained inside. What is known is that Mrs. Zeni died 11-days later.

Rebecca's Last Days

Rebecca’s last days of life were excruciatingly painful. The mites had burrowed under her skin, laid eggs, and infested her entire body.

Her hand had swollen so badly it had turned black.

Hospital staff was warned to be careful around her hand for fear that it would fall off. Other parts of her body were crusted over, red, and raw.

“At the very end, her skin was decomposing. At that point she was really, really ill from it,” Lance Lourie, an attorney for the family, told PEOPLE magazine. “The lawsuit is a suit for damages for the horrible pain and suffering Ms. Zeni went through unnecessarily.”

What is Scabies?

Scabies is a treatable condition caused when parasitic mites burrow into the skin, lay eggs, and survive from the body. Left untreated, scabies can be quite painful and in extreme cases like Zeni’s, cause death.

Lawsuits Filed Against Pruitt Health

Among the numerous lawsuits filed against Pruitt Health:

• In 2019, the Bulloch family of Augusta, GA filed a lawsuit against the facility after their 56-year-old family member passed away from untreated bedsores. The lawsuit uncovered more than a dozen similar cases at other Pruitt-operated facilities.
• An Albany, GA, Pruitt Health location was the subject of a 2019 lawsuit alleging staff failed to report sexual abuse after witnessing a resident assault a dementia patient.
• In 2016, Eula Davis died five hours after arriving at a South Carolina Pruitt Health facility after the woman fell out of a bed without the required safety railing.

Pruitt Health South Carolina received the lowest rating in both quality of care and health inspection ratings in June 2021. Similarly, Pruitt Health -High Point, received a total of 13 citations for various violations, including one for failing to treat pressure ulcers on a patient.

Resources & Additional Information:

https://people.com/human-interest/rebecca-zeni-nursing-home-scabies-death-mites/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2018/05/01/she-modeled-in-new-york-and-worked-for-the-navy-at-93-parasites-ate-her-alive-at-a-nursing-home/

https://www.11alive.com/article/news/investigations/another-nursing-home-resident-eaten-alive-by-scabies-ga-lawmaker-promises-change/85-556198827