A Kentucky retirement home caregiver has been arrested after allegedly standing by and recording a 92-year-old man attempting to suffocate his wife rather than helping the elderly woman as she struggled for her life.
The disturbing incident unfolded shortly after midnight on Wednesday, October 28, at StoryPoint Brownsboro, a senior living community in Louisville, where police say the woman’s designated caregiver filmed the alleged attack for 71 seconds before another staff member intervened.
According to Louisville Metro Police, 92-year-old Bert Morris allegedly placed a plastic bag over his wife’s face and pinched her nose, preventing her from breathing. Investigators said the bag could be seen tightening around the woman’s face as the assault continued.
But what happened nearby has prompted a second criminal case.
Police allege that Terrence Gabie, 41, who was responsible for caring for the victim, witnessed the attack and pulled out his cellphone to record it instead of offering assistance.
Court documents accuse Gabie of knowingly failing to protect the woman despite recognizing that she was in immediate danger. Another nurse eventually stepped in and separated the couple, bringing the alleged assault to an end.
Emergency responders rushed the woman to a nearby hospital, where she was reportedly unconscious. Her current medical condition has not been publicly disclosed. https://www.wdrbwave.com+1
Officers responding to the retirement community in the 6700 block of Overlook Drive launched an investigation that led to the arrest of both Morris and Gabie.
When investigators questioned Morris about the incident, he allegedly made a chilling statement about his wife, telling police she “needed to die.”
Morris was charged with attempted murder involving domestic violence and first-degree strangulation. Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive or established whether the couple had a history of domestic disputes.
Police have also not indicated whether any medical or cognitive condition played a role in the alleged attack.
Gabie was separately charged with knowingly abusing or neglecting an adult in connection with his alleged failure to intervene.
The case has raised serious questions about the responsibility of caregivers to protect vulnerable residents, particularly when an employee assigned to a patient’s care allegedly witnesses an assault without taking action.
Both men appeared in court on Thursday, October 29, and pleaded not guilty.
A judge reduced Morris’ bond from $250,000 to $150,000. Gabie’s bond was set at $10,000, and he was subsequently released on his own recognizance.
Both defendants are scheduled to return to court on November 6 for preliminary hearings, when prosecutors are expected to present evidence supporting the charges. https://www.wsmv.com+1
StoryPoint Brownsboro has acknowledged the investigation and said it is cooperating with law enforcement.
In a statement to WHAS11, a facility spokesperson emphasized that resident safety and well-being remain its highest priorities, while declining to discuss the specific circumstances surrounding the arrests.
The allegations have also renewed concerns about abuse involving older adults, an issue advocates warn can be particularly difficult to identify when victims depend on family members or professional caregivers for daily assistance.
Domestic violence does not disappear with age, and older victims can face additional barriers to reporting abuse, including physical limitations, financial dependence and fear of losing their support systems.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides confidential assistance to victims of all ages at 1-800-799-7233.
Meanwhile, Louisville Metro Police’s Special Victims Unit Domestic Violence Squad continues investigating the incident.
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