Elderly woman in Assisted Living dies from Exposure

LONDON, Ky. (WTVQ) – Around 8:20 on Monday morning, Laurel Village Assisted Living contacted the London Police. They reported to the police that Dorothy McKnight, an elderly female resident, had gone missing sometime between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m., between visits of staff members.

Sgt. Daniel Robinson said he was gathering information at the facility when another staff member from Laurel Village pulled into the parking lot, and informed him that she had found McKnight.

The staff member directed officers to a southern area of the facility, where McKnight had been discovered. Staff Member Greg Lewis, who had originally placed the call that McKnight had gone missing, quickly checked for a pulse, finding none. Laurel County Ambulance was also unable to find one, when they arrived.

Investigators say Dorothy McKnight had dementia, and had wandered a few doors down from her home, stepping up onto someone else’s porch. She then fell off the porch, where she succumbed to hypothermia.

In their statement, Laurel village said “Our hearts are broken at the loss of Dorothy. She was a beloved member of our assisted living community for nearly 10 years” […] “The well being and safety of our clients remains our top priority.”

Investigation into the incident is ongoing.