GUTHRIE, OK- GOLDEN AGE NURSING HOME OF GUTHRIE

Degrading Snapchat photos of Oklahoma nursing home patients gets former aide 12-year prison sentence

GUTHRIE — A former nursing home worker has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for sending degrading photos and videos of elderly residents on the instant messaging app Snapchat.

Jade Marie Williams, 21, of Oklahoma City, pleaded guilty in November to elder abuse and conspiracy to commit elder abuse. She had worked at the Golden Age Nursing Home in Guthrie from July 2022 to last April.

One of the videos mocked a resident who was lying dead in bed with her mouth open, Guthrie police reported. Other videos showed residents on the toilet or nude in bed.

A new Logan County district judge, Jason Reese, imposed the punishment on the felony case after commenting that a basic duty of society is caring for the young and the elderly.

“The abuse was extensive,” the judge said.

The judge was told Williams sent degrading photos and videos of the residents 66 times. Assistant District Attorney Matthew Adams said the offenses involved 15 residents.

The prosecutor said Williams and two other workers preyed upon the victims “for their own twisted amusement.” He said Williams’ morbid actions had denied the victims their right to live out their lives with dignity.

In court Tuesday, Williams blamed a drug addiction and alcohol abuse for her behavior. She said she loved the residents and prayed they will forgive her.

“I regret it,” she said. “I feel terrible. I cry myself to sleep. Its the only thing I think about.”

In a written statement for a presentence report, she also blamed a dark sense of humor. “The videos that were taken, I would sometimes send to the two other people in this case because I figured if it’s funny to me, it’ll be funny to them,” she wrote.

She wrote she was drinking excessively and using cocaine, ecstasy, Xanax and fentanyl.

She appeared in court in orange jail clothes, her wrists chained to her waist. She wept at times. She will get credit toward her sentence for her time in jail.

The prosecutor had asked for a sentence of 10 years in prison and 10 years on probation. Her defense attorney had asked for only probation.

The judge put Williams on probation for eight years after she completes her prison time. He fined her $2,000 and ordered her to complete 300 hours of community service.

She also will have to pay $500 to the state’s victims compensation fund and other costs.

Guthrie police began an investigation after a former worker reported getting from Williams a Snapchat video of a nude resident.

Williams was charged with elder abuse and conspiracy in June in Logan County District Court.

Two others charged with elder abuse for degrading photos, videos of patients

Also charged in June with elder abuse and conspiracy were two other former nursing home employees, Aubrey Madison Granata, 21, of Guthrie, and McKenzie Blayre Bolfa, 20, of Guthrie.

Granata and Bolfa have pleaded not guilty and are free on bond.

All three were accused of taking photos and videos of themselves and residents in a degrading manner and disseminating the photos and videos amongst themselves from Dec. 1, 2023, to April 4, 2024.

The photos and videos were never posted on any social media platforms.

In a statement to the media last year, the nursing home said its employees are subject to background checks and receive training about patients’ rights and safety.

“At Golden Age Nursing Home, our priority and passion is to create a safe and loving community where our residents can thrive,” it said. “Unfortunately, we recently became aware of allegations of a violation of resident’s rights involving three employees. Upon receiving that information, the facility began working with local law enforcement and other appropriate authorities to respond. The employees involved are no longer employed at Golden Age.”

Source: Click here to read on The Oklahoman.