Death of woman following an altercation at York County nursing home ruled a homicide

Dec. 19--A woman who died at a nursing and rehab facility died at the hands of another, the York County Coroner ruled on Tuesday, but the ruling may not result in legal action.

Coroner Pam Gay wrote in a press release that Nancy Young, 89, fell at the Pleasant Acres Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in York, on Dec. 8. Her office was involved on Dec. 15, after Young had died from complications related to the fall.

At the time the coroner was called, Young had been transported to Beck's Funeral Home in Spring Grove. Gay notes the manner of death was originally thought to be accidental.

Gay said after further investigation by her office, the fall was determined to be the result of an unwitnessed altercation between Young and another resident.

As Young died as a result of complications to the hip fracture she suffered in the fall, Gay ruled Young's death was a homicide, or death at the hands of another.

Gay clearly states that while she defined Young's death as a homicide, it may not result in legal action.

"The coroner's definition of homicide can be broad, referencing death that occurs at the hands of another. This does not mean that the ruling of homicide has legal merit -- that may or may not be determined by police, the DA or a Court," Gay wrote in the press release.

Springettsbury Township Police were notified of the incident on Dec. 12, and is the investigating police agency on the case.

No autopsy will be performed, Gay said. No additional information will be released from the coroner's office.

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