Police to question nursing home abuse suspect

LUFKIN, TX (KTRE) - Lufkin Police have named a suspect in the nursing home abuse case which allegedly occurred in March.

Shondra Rodriguez, 21, is suspected of injury to the elderly at Castle Pines Health & Rehabilitation, according to Michael Shapaka of Lufkin Police Department.

When first contacted about the case on Wednesday, Shapaka said a warrant was out for Rodriguez's arrest and they thought she may have fled to Arizona, where her mother lived.

But around 11 a.m. Wednesday, Shapaka told KTRE Rodriguez had not fled the state, but she just did not know police were looking for her. Shapaka said police were going to bring her in for questioning.

The complaint was first filed on March 23 when a director at Castle Pines told police they had seen someone slapping the hand of a patient the day before.  The elderly patient had bruising to the backs of both hands and a tear to the skin of her upper arm.

The elderly patient had brusing to the backs of both hands and a tear to the skin of her upper arm.

A representative of Castle Pines refused to comment on the case, and would not even comment on the status of Rodriguez's employment.