Guilty Verdict in Kent Assisted Living Rape
Joseph Thurura, A 32-year old former assisted living employee has been found guilty of rape by Judge Richard McDermott in King County Superior Court. The rape occurred while the victim, Jaime - a 45-year-old woman who is blind and mute, was living at Integrated Living Services, an assisted living facility in Kent, Washington.
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports:
Unable to identify her assailant, police took DNA samples from 11 men who had been in a position to have sexual contact with the woman. Prosecutors asserted that Thurura proved a 99.99 percent match to DNA recovered from fetal tissue.
McDermott's ruling means Thurura faces 6 ½ to 8 ½ years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced August 14 at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.
An investigation showed that the facility had done criminal background checks, and the staff was informed as to signs of elder abuse. Unfortunately, the discovery of those signs did not translate into a check for rape until Jaime was found to be pregnant.
If your loved one is in a nursing home, be aware of the signs of abuse. Bruising, scratching, or behavior outside the norm for them could be indicators of a traumatic event. Seeing them early may help to prevent abuse or stop it early on.
