Police find 2 dead, 2 in critical condition at neglected NC nursing home

Thomasville Police were called to a nursing home on Sunday night after people reported that staff could not be reached over the phone and had not been seen by some residents of the facility.

When police arrived at Pine Ridge Health and Rehabilitation Center, they said there were only three staff members working, trying to take care of the 98 residents who lived in the facility.

First responders were called and police found two people who had died at the nursing home and two other people who were in critical condition.

Staff had notified the families of the two people who had died, according to police, and the two people in critical condition were taken to local hospitals.

Recent weather and road conditions likely contributed to staffing issues, authorities said.

Savanna Barrett, whose great-grandmother lives at Pine Ridge Health and Rehabilitation Center, said the facility needs to make changes.

"More employees, more staffing, better food, better care," she said. "Now don't get me wrong, there are some nurses that I talk to on the daily that care about the residents and they have been there for years."

State and local officials launched an investigation into the facility, according to WXII.

Pine Ridge Health and Rehabilitation Center has been fined $137,000 over the past four years over safety and sanitation issues, according to state records.