Alabama group home resident dies after abuse, employee charged with murder
Mobile AL October 31 2018
A resident at a group home for the mentally ill in Mobile died after local law enforcement say he was physically and verbally abused by an employee at the facility.
At around 11:45 p.m. Saturday, police responded to Springhill Medical Center in reference to a 21-year-old man who had been taken to the hospital from the home, said Mobile police spokesperson Charlette Solis.
The victim, known as 21-year-old Matthew Cox, was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital, she said.
Police later learned 27-year-old Trent Yates, who worked at the group home, had been physically and verbally abusive toward the victim before he died, Solis said. Yates was first arrested and charged with first-degree assault, but charges were later upgraded to murder Monday, according to police.
Yates is expected to face a bond hearing Tuesday at 9 a.m. in Mobile District Court.
Further details about the investigation were not immediately available.
AL.com