Care home owner sentenced for death of dementia patient
The owner of a California senior assisted living center is going to jail for the death of a dementia patient who wandered away and was struck by a car.
Christopher Skiff was sentenced Friday to six months in county jail. Skiff owns Manse on Marsh in San Luis Obispo. He also can’t operate elder care facilities.
Authorities say Skiff admitted 65-year-old Mauricio Cardenas even though Cardenas had dementia and needed care the facility wasn’t licensed to provide.
In December 2014, Cardenas went missing for several hours. He was struck by a car while crossing a road in the dark 10 miles away.
Last month, Skiff was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and elder abuse.
The facility’s executive director, Gary Potts, has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.
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