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"East Coast Rapist" Receives More Than 3 Life Sentences

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The man known as the East Coast Rapist was sentenced Friday to three terms of life in prison plus 80 years.

Aaron Thomas of Connecticut pleaded guilty in November to two counts of rape and three counts of abduction for a Halloween 2009 attack on three teenage trick-or-treaters in Prince William County. Thomas forced the trick-or-treaters -- two of whom are now in college -- into the woods and raped two of them over the course of about an hour. He had a cigarette lighter that was a replica of a gun, Prince William County Commonwealth's Attorney Paul Ebert told News4. One of the victims was able to text her mother, who called police. Thomas fled when he heard sirens, Ebert said.

At sentencing Friday, Thomas gave a statement referring to himself as "totally blameworthy," News4's Erika Gonzalez reported. He also described what he called an "uncivilized" childhood.

Doctors testified that Thomas is not insane nor incompetent but suffers from a sexual deviance disorder, Gonzalez reported. They said he told them he knew what he did was wrong and did not want the charges dismissed but hoped he would get out of prison in time to take his son to a ballgame.

Two of his victims testified that they forgave Thomas and prayed he would be cured of his sickness, Gonzalez reported. But the mother of another victim said her daughter hasn't been the same since the attack.

Thomas also pleaded guilty in November to rape and abduction charges in Loudoun County for a rape in 2001 at a Leesburg apartment complex. He faces multiple life sentences that case as well.

Thomas's behavior and mental status was an issue in court, if not an issue raised formally in the trial.

Ebert called Thomas's behavior "erratic from the start." In custody, Thomas has repeatedly cut his wrists and smeared his blood on the walls of his cell. He has claimed he had an alternate personality -- Erwin.

However, the prosecution's mental health expert had found Thomas was either "feigning or greatly exaggerating" symptoms. His attorneys had notified the court that sanity would not be raised as an issue.

Police used DNA evidence to link Thomas to 17 attacks dating to 1997 from the D.C. area to Connecticut, including attacks in Fairfax and Prince George's counties.

The tip that led to his arrest came from Prince George's County.

In a story published in The Washington Post, Thomas acknowledged that he was the East Coast Rapist, saying, "I don't think I'm crazy but something is wrong with me."



Photo Credit: Prince William County Police

Beauty Queen "Terrified" by Suspect in Rape Case

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A California beauty queen has claimed she was a potential victim of a man charged with raping a woman he met on a Christian dating website.

Sean Banks, 37, of Del Mar, is accused of raping a woman he met through ChristianMingle.com in November.

And now, a contestant in the Miss California 2012 pageant claims Banks threatened her while out on bail.

"He was aware that I had evidence and he started intimidating me from that point not to talk to police," Victoria Kinney said.

Banks faces a number of charges including rape by force, digital penetration by force and residential burglary in connection with an alleged attack in La Mesa more than three months ago.

In that case, a La Mesa woman told police Banks arrived at her home on Nov. 12, was sexually aggressive toward her and ultimately raped her. Banks was arrested by La Mesa police on Feb. 11.

"This woman is alleging that he pushed the boundaries and attempted to have sexual intercourse with her against her will. We think when you see all the facts that will prove not to be the case," said defense attorney Gretchen von Helms.

Banks, a graduate student of Pepperdine University and a former Lt. JG in the U.S. Navy, appeared in an El Cajon courtroom Friday to face two additional criminal charges.

One of the charges involves a date rape allegation from 2009 and the second charge involved dissuading a witness, or threatening a witness not to talk with police.

Kinney, Miss Irvine-Orangewood in the 2012 Miss California pageant, said she met Banks through the ChristianMingle website.

Banks used an alias in their communication, said Kinney's attorney, Daniel Gilleon.

Investigators said Banks has been known to use several aliases online including Rarity, Rylan, Rylan Butterwood and Rylan Harbough.

The beauty queen said Banks was very charming at first but then he made comments that she took as threats.

"I didn’t listen to my instincts," she said. "In those instances and looking back, I absolutely should have."

"We discussed meeting for lunch when I returned and when I returned, he called me to let me know he had been arrested for rape," she added.

Gilleon said his client was terrified, but wanted to testify about her experience to support other possible victims.

"She’s a Christian woman. She believes it’s her duty at this point to come forward, share her story generally and ask other women to come forward," Gilleon said.

He said the comments made by Banks to Kinney were "clearly threats."

As a result, Judge Charles Ervin approved on Friday a protective order banning Banks from having contact or getting within 100 yards of Kinney.

Banks was taken into custody on a "no bail request" on the new charges even though he had posted $500,000 bail on his previous charges.

Judge Ervin called it a unique request and told defense attorneys he had never seen the situation in 25 to 30 years.

Von Helms said she and her co-counsel Jan Ronis had no time to review the additional charges and asked for a bail review early next week.

"Anyone would feel terrible about these types of allegations and he certainly does," Von Helms said of Banks.

"This young man -- he’s a Ph.D. candidate. He’s a college graduate. He served in the military. There are a lot of good factors about him that will come to light as we proceed in this case," she said.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 26.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Door-to-Door Salesman Saves Woman From Fire

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A door-to-door salesman selling home fire alarms noticed smoke coming from a Garland home, heard a woman screaming and broke a window to rescue her.

Kaeriel Evans, 18, who has Down syndrome, was inside by herself when the blaze started in the 1600 block of Homestead Place at about 6 p.m.

"I heard this lady yelling, 'Help, help,'" said Corey Anderson, of Rowlett. "I looked down and saw the smoke so I took off running, and -- reaction -- I just started kicking in the windows."

He tried to find her but couldn't at first.

"As far as I went in, I couldn't see nothing," Anderson said. "It was just smoke."

Then, he heard her voice again.

"I heard somebody say, 'Help me, help me,' so I pushed over an entertainment center and kind of went in there and saw the girl and I told her, 'Drop down and come to me.' And she did. And I got her out."

Anderson sells home security systems that include fire alarms, he said. He hadn't yet made it to her house when he saw the smoke and flames.

Evans was transported to Parkland Memorial Hospital with smoke inhalation and minor burns but was expected to recover.

Soon, Evans' brother arrived home.

"When I saw the house burned up, that's the first thing I asked about -- where is my sister?" Kavaucey Lewis said.

Lewis, 20, said he lives in the house with five siblings and their mother.

He quickly learned about her rescue and thanked Anderson.

"I just told him how much I appreciate it because my sister is my heart," he said.

Anderson was humble about what he had done.

"I'm glad I was here and could help," he said. "I really do wish if that was my family, somebody would do the same thing."

Evans said he couldn't thank Anderson enough.

"He went in there and, you know, he's a hero," Evans said. "He went above and beyond."

Anderson said the word "hero" doesn't fit.

"I don't feel like a hero," he said. "I just feel like, I mean, it was reaction. At the time, I just went with my instincts."

Firefighters are investigating how the fire started.



Photo Credit: NBC 5 and Evans Family Photo

Attorney: Nothing Points to Dead Lottery Winner's Wife

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The sign said "open" but the doors were locked Friday at the north side cleaners lottery winner Urooj Khan owned and his wife, Shabana Ansari continues to operate.

An employee said she was not there, even though her car was parked outside.

Her attorney, Al-Haroon Husain, said he saw nothing in the medical examiner's report which implicated Ansari in her husband's cyanide-induced death.

“We don’t believe this report today shows anything we didn’t already know,” he said. “There is no evidence, we don’t believe there is going to be any evidence pointing to Ms. Ansari.”

The autopsy performed on Khan's body in January confirmed what authorities suspected: that Khan died of cyanide poisoning. How he ingested it, however, remains a mystery.

Husain insisted Ansari wants to know who or what killed her husband more than anyone else.

"This was her husband," said Husain. "She really wants to know what caused his death."

The lottery victim’s sister said she never had high hopes the autopsy would yield new clues.

“It would have been hard to detect, because it’s such a long time,” Meraj Khan said. “I was not surprised, but I was hoping that something would have come out with these test results.”

The family has stopped short of pointing fingers. But they have frequently noted that the victim’s wife Shabana Ansari and her father, were the only people with him (along with his 17 year old daughter) the night he died.

“It should not be where something that he would have carried around with him all day long, and functioned, and then had a dinner and have a chat with his daughter and wife, and then pass away,” Khan said. “It was something that would happen, maybe an hour or two at the most.”

Her husband, Mohammed Zaman has repeatedly said they are putting their faith in investigators, rather than making public accusations.

“We can’t really point at someone, but we can suspect,” he said. “He was a homicide victim. He did not die of natural causes.”
 

Local Impact from Sequestration Cuts

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Approximately one in four jobs in San Diego is defense-related, and about half the looming sequestration cuts are to defense. NBC 7 s Danya Bacchus breaks down how the cuts may affect us locally.

Pedestrian Hit, Killed Near Freeway Ramp

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A pedestrian was struck and killed by a car in Linda Vista Friday night, California Highway Patrol officials confirmed.

The fatal accident happened near the freeway on-ramp at southbound State Route 163 and Genesee Avenue at around 9:45 p.m.

CHP officials received reports of a pedestrian down on the roadway. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers temporarily closed down traffic on eastbound Genesee Avenue near the on-ramp as investigators processed the scene.

Additional details – including the victim’s name – has not yet been released.
 



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

San Diego's Cutest Critters

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San Diego's own zoo babies and other adorable animal moments captured on camera.

Photo Credit: Rita Petita/ San Diego Zoo

Escaped Inmate Found in Oceanside

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An inmate who escaped from a maximum security jail in Orange County was found at an Oceanside motel after he was the subject of an extensive search, officials said on Saturday.

Police were acting on information that Saith Na, 26 was at an Oceanside motel and caught him on Saturday morning, officials with the Orange County Sheriff's Department said in a press release.

Na was being held at the Theo Lacy Jail in Orange on criminal street terrorism, robbery, narcotics and weapons possession charges. During a routine check, officials discovered him missing at 10:30 a.m. Friday. He had been arrested in Santa Ana on Aug. 26.

The 11-acre facility was placed on lockdown and deputies used bloodhounds to try to find him.

He faces a March 12 court date, officials said.


Woman Beaten in Mercedes Carjacking

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A female driver was punched several times during a carjacking in the Talmadge area Friday night.

According to police, the carjacking happened in the 4500 block of Winina Avenue just before 7 p.m. Two unknown suspects – a man and a woman – approached a 54-year-old victim and punched her several times before stealing her car keys.

The suspects drove away in the woman’s silver, four-door 2006 Mercedes C230.

The victim complained of pain in her head following the assault.

Police describe the suspects as a black man in his mid-30s with a medium build and short, black hair and a black woman in her mid-20s with a ponytail.

Robbery detectives are investigating. Officials say the California license plate number on the stolen vehicle is 6RHB253.

 

Transit Plans Revealed for North County

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Transit leaders from San Diego Association of Governments and CALTRANS talk about the future of transportation in North County.

Fatal Crash Prompts On-Ramp Closure

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A motorcyclist was killed in a crash on northbound Interstate 805 in Lincoln Park Saturday, CHP officials said.

The fatal accident happened around 12:20 p.m. near the 47th Street on-ramp to northbound I-805. It is unclear if any other vehicles besides one motorcycle were involved.

CHP officials issued a SigAlert and shut down the ramp following the crash.

Further details, including the victim’s name have yet to be released.
 

A Turkey Vulture's Human Love Affair

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It was love at first sight for a tough turkey vulture that survived a car crash in Virginia 10 years ago.

The bird openly flaunts her relationship with soft-spoken Los Angeles County animal keeper Dave Stives.

Their bond was captured in a YouTube video published Thursday on the website of LA County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky.

“Apollo has a crush on him and is absolutely in love,” said Kaye Michelson, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. “She has this huge wingspan that looks like she is hugging him with her wings.”

After being hit, Apollo was sent to a private facility in the Antelope Valley, where she had her serendipitous meeting with Stives, her first contact with a human being.

Stives helped nurse Apollo back to health. He recalls her wild instincts during their first encounter.

“She was a typical wild animal, just running around and trying to get away, acting like a totally wild bird,” Stives said told NBC4 on Saturday. “She took a liking to me.”

The facility went out of business and Apollo was moved to the Placerita Canyon Nature Center in Newhall where she was reunited with her human soul mate and will remain throughout her life.

“She remembered me from the beginning,” Stives said.

The turkey vulture’s love at first sight was obvious to others in the nature center.

“It’s fascinating to see him handle her,” Michelson said.

The bird has taken to a form of non-verbal communication with her buddy, "hugging" or enveloping him in her nearly 6-foot wingpsan.

Before completing his other tasks, Stives usually stops in first to see his red-headed friend who was named by her original caretakers before they knew the bird was a female.

“I say, 'hi,' every morning and make sure she is all right," he said. “I don’t think she could get into a fight with me if she wanted to.”

 

Locals Rally Against Gun Violence

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Dozens of demonstrators gathered at a local church Saturday afternoon to rally against gun violence.

The rally was held around 3 p.m. at the First Unitarian Universality Church in the 4100 block of Front Street. There, participants called for stricter federal gun laws, the renewal of a ban on assault weapons, the banning of high-capacity magazines and background checks for those who wish to own firearms.

The demonstration was organized by a local group called “People for a Safe Community.” The organization’s mission is to modify current gun laws in an effort to improve public safety for all Americans.

Several speakers were assembled for Saturday’s event, including San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, Poway Unified School District Board member Rick McCoy and Maryanne Pintar, head of the San Diego chapter of Mothers Demand Action for Sensible Gun Control.

Some parents whose children were victims of gun violence also attended the rally, as well as representatives from Congressman Scott Peters’ office, Senator Dianne Feinstein’s office and Congresswoman Susan Davis’ office.
 



Photo Credit: Chris Chan

Southwestern College Trustee Resigns

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A newly-elected Southwestern College trustee announced his resignation in the pages of the community college's student newspaper, The Southwestern College Sun.

Trustee William Stewart told The Sun on Friday he was quitting in protest, saying district administrators were not providing accurate budget information to the governing board and to the faculty's union negotiators.  He could not be reached for comment to NBC7.

In a resignation letter sent to the South Bay community college, Stewart wrote:

"I will not sit on a board and say that I am fulfilling my fiduciary duty of fiscal oversight when I am not provided with the means to do so. Without information, all the information (his emphasis), oversight is a sham." 

Southwestern is deadlocked in a contentious contract negotiation with its faculty union. The classified, management and confidential employees have agreed to concessions - a 5 percent pay reduction and furlough days. The faculty union, the largest on campus, is facing layoffs if no deal is reached, according to the administration.

Stewart, a philosophy professor at San Diego City College, told The Sun he disagreed with the administration's negotiation tactic of "threatening layoffs," and added he was denied access to important budget documentation.

"We would have to respectfully disagree with that," said Southwestern college spokeswoman Lillian Leopold. "We've been providing all the budget information the board and the union has asked for. We're just sorry he chose to resign."

Stewart ran in the November 2012 elections as part of a slate that included trustee Humberto Peraza, with heavy backing from the local arm of the American Federation of Teachers and labor. 

"I'm disappointed that he chose to resign," Peraza said. "Look, this is a tough job. You have to work through disagreements to reach consensus and that isn't always easy."

The board is scheduled to decide on March 13 whether to appoint a new governing board member to fill Stewart's spot or hold a special election, which would be costly. If appointed, a trustee would have to run for re-election in the 2014 campaign cycle.

A March 4 special board meeting is scheduled for the board to discuss the ongoing labor negotiations in closed-session.

Panga Boat Collides Into Harbor Police Boat, Flees

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A panga boat disappeared into Mexican waters Saturday night after colliding with a Harbor Police vessel off the Imperial Beach coast, authorities confirmed.  

The operators of the panga-style boat fled and disappeared in the dark waters, after the crash around 9:25 p.m., according to Harbor Police Sgt. Michael Rich.

No one was injured during the incident, and Rich said he didn't believe the Harbor Police vessel was badly damaged.

Boats similar to the one that crashed into the Harbor Patrol boat are often used to smuggle drugs or people into the United States from Mexico.

"Our patrol unit was not able to see what was on the boat," Rich said.

 


Maintenance Worker Reunited with the Toddler He Saved

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A California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) maintenance worker who  helped save a toddler’s life  earlier this week was reunited with the happy, healthy baby boy and his very grateful family on Friday, according to NBC San Diego.

 

On Monday, Caltrans worker Joe Thomas was traveling when he noticed two women in distress on the side of the road, crying and waving for help.

The women, mother Denise Ortiz and grandmother Rebecca Hill, told Thomas their 13-month-old baby, Cesar Ortiz, wasn’t breathing and needed immediate medical attention.

Thomas called 911, grabbed the child from Hill's hands and proceeded to render first-aid and CPR on the spot, saving the tot’s life.

Hill says the family was driving on a freeway when baby Cesar suddenly began crying and shaking. After that, the baby’s eyes rolled to the back of his head and he stopped breathing.

By the time Thomas pulled over and got to Cesar, Thomas says the boy was not breathing and had turned blue.

Thomas says he immediately began compressions on the baby’s chest and back and then administered CPR. Eventually, Cesar began gasping for air and was able to breathe on his own again.

Emergency crews arrived shortly thereafter and transported the revived toddler to the hospital. He was released that same day and is now doing well.

Ortiz and Hill say they’re extremely thankful to Thomas for saving Cesar’s life.

Thomas says he just wanted the little boy to be okay and did what he had to do.

“I didn’t think about it, I just did it,” said Thomas.

All three believe Thomas was at the right place at the right time.

Normally, Thomas said he doesn’t travel along the road he was driving on for work, but that day something just told him to drive that way.

"I just think God led me that way that day. God just used me," he added.

Thomas, who’s worked for Caltrans for the past 15 years and has four children of his own, says he learned his CPR skills from training seminars held by his company.

Thomas says he receives CPR training through Caltrans every three years, but this was the first time he’s ever had to use those skills. He urges everyone to become trained in CPR as a precaution.

After this scary incident, both Ortiz and Hill say they plan to take CPR classes.

“I was scared; I’ve never been through this before,” said Ortiz. “I have to take a CPR class now, just in case.”

Happy ending and all, the story of Thomas, baby Cesar and family doesn’t end here.

They all say they plan to stay in touch for many years to come.

“We’re in a long term relationship now – I’m bringing them into my family,” said Thomas.

At Friday’s heartfelt reunion, baby Cesar was full of energy -- walking, laughing, talking and playing like a healthy, bouncy, baby boy. He hugged the man who saved him and giggled when Thomas put a white Caltrans hard-hat on his little head.

As for Caltrans, well, they're pretty proud of Thomas' quick-thinking and compassion on the job.

The company   thanked their heroic worker on Twitter this week, posting : “Great job Joe!”

 

Great job, indeed.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Locals Unite for 3rd Annual 'Finish Chelsea's Run'

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Locals gathered in Balboa Park Saturday morning for the 3rd Annual “Finish Chelsea’s Run,” a 5K race and fun run/walk held in honor of slain local teen Chelsea King. King was last seen on Feb. 25, 2010 when she went for a run that she’d never finish at Rancho Bernardo Community Park. King was killed by registered sex offender John Gardner, who was later sentenced to life in prison for her death and the murder of 14-year-old local Amber Dubois.

Photo Credit: Artie Ojeda

Thousands "Finish Chelsea's Run"

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Hundreds of locals will gather in Balboa Park Saturday morning to celebrate the life of late Poway teen Chelsea King by doing something that she loved to do: run.

King’s family and their Chelsea’s Light Foundation will host the 3rd Annual “Finish Chelsea’s Run” 5K event at Balboa Park.

Registration opens at 6:30 a.m. and the fun run/walk begins at 7:30 a.m. sharp at the starting line on 6th Avenue and Palm. The finish line is at Balboa Drive, just south of Quince.

The run will be followed by a fun-filled family festival that includes refreshments, children’s activities and entertainment.

The event is a fundraiser for the Chelsea’s Light Foundation’s Sunflower Scholarship Fund, a scholarship program designed to help San Diego youth achieve their academic and community enrichment goals.

The first-ever Finish Chelsea’s Run was organized shortly after 17-year-old Chelsea disappeared on February 25, 2010. The Poway High School cross-country athlete was last seen alive when she went for an after-school run that she would never finish near Rancho Bernardo Community Park.

Her body was discovered March 2, 2010 in the Lake Hodges area. Chelsea had been kidnapped, sexually assaulted and killed by John Gardner, who also confessed to killing 14-year-old local Amber Dubois, who went missing in February 2009.

The violent murders of both teens shook the San Diego community to its core.

In March 2010, a group of runners came together to organize a grassroots run. Their goal was to finish Chelsea’s run through Lake Hodges, take back the park and honor the slain teen.

More than 3,500 people showed up to that first community run. The King Family has been hosting the event annually ever since, now in Balboa Park, a place Chelsea frequently visited.

In 2011, more than 4,500 people participated in the Finish Chelsea’s Run. In 2012, the turnout was just as great, with the run/walk raising $120,000 and providing 11 Sunflower Scholarships for kids through the Chelsea’s Light Foundation.

NBC 7’s Artie Ojeda is participating in the 2013 Finish Chelsea’s Run. Ojeda will be helping with the event and speaking with locals partaking in the event.

For more information about the run and the Chelsea's Light Foundation, click here.



Photo Credit: Artie Ojeda

President Bush To Eulogize Van Cliburn

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President George W. Bush is among the dignitaries who will pay tribute to pianist Van Cliburn at his memorial service on Sunday.

In 2003, Bush presented Van Cliburn The Presidential Medal of Freedom. He also received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award that year. President Barack Obama honored Cliburn with the National Medal of Arts in 2010.

Cliburn died Wednesday at 78 after fighting bone cancer. He had played for every American president since Harry Truman, plus royalty and heads of state around the world.

He is best remembered for winning the first International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 1958, at the height of the Cold War.

According to the memorial service program, Van Cliburn's friend of long standing Thomas Smith, Texas Governor Rick Perry and Joseph W. Polisi, president of The Juilliard School will also pay tribute to Van Cliburn. Van Cliburn studied at Juilliard after graduating from Kilgore High School in Texas.

Family spokesman Tom Stoker says a funeral is scheduled for 3:00-5:00 p.m. Sunday at the Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, where Cliburn worshiped for decades. Entombment at the mausoleum at Greenwood Memorial Park will follow.
 

Nurse Refuses 911 Dispatcher Begging Her to Perform CPR

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An elderly woman at a in Bakersfield, California retirement facility died after a nurrse refused to perform CPR on the woman after she collapsed, NBC Southern California Reported.

When 87-year-old Lorraine Bayless, resident of Glenwood Gardens Skilled Nursing Facility, Lorraine Bayless, collapsed at the facility around 11 a.m., a staff member called 911 but refused to give the woman CPR, according to a recording of the call.

In refusing the 911 dispatcher's insistence that she perform CPR, the nurse can be heard telling the dispatcher that it was against the retirement facility's policy to perform CPR.

During the exchange between the nurse and the dispatcher, the dispatcher can be heard saying "I don't understand why you're not willing to help this patient.''

An ambulance arrived several minutes after the call and took Bayless to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. She has been identified as a resident of the home's independent facility, which is separate from the skilled and assisted nursing facility.

The retirement facility released a statement extending its condolences to the family and said its "practice is to immediately call emergency medical personnel for assistance and to wait with the individual needing attention until such personnel arrives.''

The statement also said a "thorough internal review of the matter'' would be conducted.

A call to the facility by The Associated Press seeking more information on the incident was not immediately returned.

 

Bayless' daughter told a reporter for KGET, the NBC affiliate in Bakersfield, that she was also a nurse and was satisfied with the care her mother received.

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