Ex-owner of group residence is indicted

The former owner of a now shuttered group home was indicted by a Lucas County grand jury Wednesday, more than two years after two men in her care died from excessive heat.

Pamela Shay, 60, was charged with two counts each of involuntary manslaughter and recklessly failing to provide for a functionally impaired person. If convicted, she faces up to 23 years in prison.

The charges are a result of the deaths of two men, Thomas Calhoun, 47, and John Jones, 79, in 2008.

Toledo Police responded to the group home at 1577 Bow St., off Western Avenue, on the afternoon of June 9, 2008, on a report of two unresponsive males.

Mr. Calhoun was found dead in an upstairs bedroom, where authorities said the temperature measured 90.5 degrees.

Mr. Jones, his roommate, died the following week in the University of Toledo Medical Center, formerly the Medical College of Ohio. His temperature was measured at 105.5 degrees when he arrived at the hospital, the Lucas County coroner's office said at the time of the incident.

Detective Jeff Clark said Wednesday that several entities were involved in the ensuing investigation, which delayed presenting the case to the grand jury.

"It was a long process of several agencies being involved before completing the investigation," Detective Clark said.

The Ohio Department of Health released a nine-page report in July, 2008, detailing the findings of an investigation that resulted in the recommendation that the group home be closed. The report revealed that on the afternoon the men were found, Angel Arms employees - knowing of the excessive heat - had not taken responsibility to ensure the victims took their morning medications and drank fluids, provided them with breakfast and lunch, or checked on them until 1 p.m.

Nothing was presented by the facility to demonstrate that the residents were being monitored in the heat for safety, according to the report. The high temperature on that day was 94 degrees.

According to the state health department, the group home was closed Oct. 29, 2008.

Although there were employees at the home at the time of the incident, no further charges are being considered at this time, Detective Clark said.

Contact Erica Blake at:

eblake@theblade.com

or 419-213-2134.