Caregiver charged with manslaughter waives hearing

The Patton, Mo., caregiver charged in the death of an elderly woman she was paid to look after waived her formal arraignment Monday and will be back in court next month.

Sherri Gail Coomer, 53, is charged with second-degree manslaughter in connection with the Oct. 23 death of 80-year-old Patricia Joan Langston.

Coomer was arrested after a four-month investigation found that she was allegedly negligent while watching Langston. Langston died of a sepsis infection.

Coomer's attorney, Patrick McMenamin, declined to comment on the case after Coomer's hearing Monday.

Langston had a history of medical problems and had employed Coomer to stay with her 24 hours a day, seven days a week, according to the probable-cause statement filed in the case. Coomer lived with Langston and was paid to groom and bathe her, as well as ensure she took her medication and went to doctors' appointments.

An autopsy revealed that Langston had several bedsores on her body. Some of the bedsores were infested with maggots, according to the probable-cause statement. Authorities say Coomer's improper care contributed to Langston's death from infection.

Coomer is listed in Missouri's Family Care Safety Registry, a state-run database that helps to protect children, seniors and the disabled by providing background information on caregivers throughout the state. Any person hired on or after Jan. 1, 2001, as a child care or elder care worker must file an application within 15 days of becoming employed, according to the registry's website.

Coomer will be back in court Feb. 16 for a pretrial hearing.

psullivan@semissourian.com

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