More Than 12 Victims Of Alleged Sexual Offences Identified At Seniors' Home: Police

More than a dozen victims have now been identified in a sexual offence investigation involving a nursing home in Saint John.

Saint John police first alerted the public to the investigation last Friday, noting there was believed to be “multiple” victims.

Police say the victims range in age from 70s through to 90s.

Saint John police indicated last Friday that a suspect had been identified in relation to the investigation. The force later told Brunswick News that the suspect has an “affiliation” with the senior-care facility, but to date, no arrests have been made.

Police have yet to publicly identify the senior-care facility or the suspect, but last Friday, families of Loch Lomond Villa and Village – two east Saint John nursing homes – received notification of a police investigation underway.

In that memo obtained by Brunswick News, Ashley King, CEO of Loch Lomond Villa Inc., notified families of a “situation” now under investigation at Loch Lomond Village, a 100-bed nursing home with four resident houses.

In an update sent to families and shared with Brunswick News Monday, Loch Lomond Villa Inc. referred to the press release issued by Saint John police last Friday regarding a sexual offence investigation at a seniors’ home.

“As you can appreciate, these victims are vulnerable and there is potential for more to be identified as the investigation continues,” Saint John police Staff Sgt. Sarah Hobbs said in an email Monday afternoon.

“We are working on identifying those victims as quickly as possible.”

In its update Monday, Loch Lomond Villa told families that “police have advised that the investigation includes a known individual, who is not believed to be an employee or resident of Loch Lomond Villa.”

“We recognize that this situation is unsettling,” the memo reads. “Please know that existing safety protocols remain in place, and additional measures have been implemented, including the presence of an on-site security company.”

According to its earlier memo dated Jan. 23, Loch Lomond Villa Inc. had become aware of the “situation” early last week and launched an internal investigation.

As a result of that investigation, it was “deemed necessary” to notify Adult Protective Services – part of the Department of Social Development – and the Saint John Police Force.

“All impacted residents’ families have been notified,” King wrote in the memo. “The situation has now been handed over to the (Saint John Police Force), where the family protection unit has been gathering information to conduct a thorough investigation.”

Police say the senior-care facility notified them on Jan. 21 of alleged sexual offences.

“We are in the early stages of the investigation and continue to gather evidence,” Hobbs said in an email. “We are collaborating with the Department of Social Development and the senior-care facility, ensuring that appropriate resources are used throughout the investigation.”

Brunswick News posed several questions to the Department of Social Development, including whether or not it was conducting its own investigation into the allegations given that it’s responsible for inspecting and licensing nursing homes in the province.

The Department of Social Development declined to comment Tuesday.

During an unrelated news conference Tuesday, Health Minister John Dornan was asked about what had happened at the nursing home.

“Yes, that’s being investigated, but we cannot comment on an ongoing investigation,” Dornan said. “I can confirm that the residents that are there are safe, that they’re not at risk of further violations.”

Saint John police’s family protection unit is “in the initial stages of gathering information,” the force noted in its press release issued last Friday.

“The police have been working on making contact with the victims’ families as the investigation is ongoing and in its early stages,” Hobbs said, noting “steps have been put in place to ensure the ongoing safety” of residents.

Loch Lomond Villa is a sprawling seniors’ living campus on Saint John’s east side. It has two nursing homes – the Villa and the Village – and three apartment buildings, with one of them also housing a special-care home.

“We understand the concern this situation raises for residents, families and staff, and we are committed to maintaining open communication while respecting the privacy of those involved and the integrity of the investigation,” the Villa said in its update Monday.

– With files from Andrew Bates and John Chilibeck