Texas assisted living facility Harvest Renaissance left woman to freeze to death during Winter Storm Uri

An Austin, Texas, assisted living home and two of its employees have been indicted for the alleged neglect of a 73-year-old disabled woman, Cynthia Pierce, who tragically froze to death during the historic Winter Storm Uri in February 2021. The incident occurred at Harvest Renaissance, where Pierce was left inside an unheated room with the windows wide open.

The business, along with Executive Director Mendi Ramsay and Wellness Director Rochelle Alvarado, have been charged with injury to an elderly person. The indictment states that the employees failed to promptly move Pierce to a warmer area, leading to her body temperature dropping to 94 degrees. She was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to hypothermia.

Additionally, the staff at Harvest Renaissance allegedly failed to notify the Texas Health and Human Services Commission that they had lost power during the storm. The district attorney’s office stated that the staff’s conduct was authorized by high-level managerial agents, specifically Ramsay or Alvarado, acting on behalf of Harvest Renaissance-Austin, LLC.

Pierce’s daughter, Holly Ferguson, expressed her frustration with the assisted living facility, claiming that they misrepresented themselves as a licensed care facility and that their negligence resulted in her mother’s death. Ferguson hopes that the criminal case will hold Harvest accountable and prompt them to make permanent changes to prevent such tragedies in the future.

An attorney representing Ramsay and Alvarado has argued that they are not at fault for Pierce’s death and claimed that no crime was committed. Despite this, Pierce’s relatives have filed a civil lawsuit against the facility.

This heartbreaking case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of proper care and oversight in assisted living facilities, especially during times of crisis. It is essential for these facilities to prioritize the well-being of their residents and ensure that they are adequately protected in all circumstances.