How Nigerian Nurse Allegedly Killed 98-Year-Old Patient After Breaking Her Leg

A Nigerian nursing assistant is facing aggravated battery charges for intentionally breaking his 98-year-old patient’s leg before she died while undergoing surgery to fix it.

The suspect, identified as 43 year old Hakim Ogunkunle, allegedly injured his patient, Edna Warren, while she was under his care on Tuesday, at the Newnan Health and Rehabilitation in Georgia.

According to the police report, Ogunkunle had attempted to get Warren ready for breakfast when she became combative and began kicking him. When Ogunkunle allegedly held her legs together to keep from getting kicked, he heard a cracking sound in her leg.

Warren was rushed to the Piedmont Newnan Hospital to have emergency surgery but died during the procedure.

More charges could result from Friday’s autopsy after the findings are turned over to the local district attorney’s office, according to Public Affairs Deputy Director Bahan Rich with the GBI, The New Times Herald reports.

Further reports indicated Ogunkunle lied about the manner of which Warren sustained her injuries. After staff received conflicting reports, with the suspect later admitting that he was scared he would get into trouble.

The Chief Deputy Mark Cooper with the Newnan Police Department said;

“After detectives received the report, we looked into it, and, based on cases involving elder abuse, we contacted the GBI,” 

“We’ve continued to work side by side, with the GBI acting as the lead agency.”

The GBI’s investigation later concluded Ogunkunle intentionally caused Warren’s injury, according to Special Agent Fred Wimberly.

The nurse assistant has in the past had a charge of battery against patients in personal care at a home, hospice, or long-term care facility or assisted living, but wasn’t prosecuted.