Ex-nursing home worker charged with murder of an 88-year-old patient in NC
A former Fuquay-Varina nursing home employee was charged with murder after a month-long investigation into the death of an elderly woman.
Cynthia Sellars, 54, was charged and arrested Tuesday in Johnston County after authorities consulted with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the Wake County District Attorney, Fuquay-Varina police said.
Sellars is accused of pushing and seriously injuring Lillian Cooper, 88, during a confrontation at Windsor Point Retirement Community in Fuquay-Varina on Sept. 24. Cooper died a few days later, according to Capt. Brett Walsh, who investigated the case.
“We met with the Medical Examiner’s office and determined they would classify it as a homicide as a result of the assault,” Capt. Walsh said.
Cooper was being held in the facility’s memory care unit at the time of the alleged assault.
Sellars was arrested and charged with assault on an elderly or disabled person at the time, but bonded out of jail, Capt Walsh said.
She was terminated from the nursing home.
Sellars was booked into the Johnston County Detention Center with no bond.
This story was originally published October 25, 2023 at 2:12 PM.
