CLEVELAND – Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley announced that a Cuyahoga County grand jury has returned an indictment charging Amber Henderson, 32, for the death of Avenue at Warrensville Care and Rehabilitation Center resident Alvera Meuti, 84, in December 2024.

On December 23, 2024, around 9:15 p.m., Amber Henderson began her shift as a nurse at the Avenue at Warrensville Care and Rehabilitation Center on Interchange Corporate Center Road in Warrensville Heights. She received her resident assignment, which included resident Alvera Meuri. The previous nurse, who was in charge of Alvera, gave her report to Amber Henderson and said Alvera was unable to walk by herself and that she last checked on her around 8:40 p.m. Around 9:30 p.m., Amber Henderson went to check on Alvera in her room and noticed Alvera was not there. Henderson assumed Alvera left the facility with her family and continued her shift.

Later that night, around 12:36 a.m., after not seeing Alvera, Henderson attempted to call Alvera’s family to check if she was with them. The family did not answer, and Henderson continued her shift. The next morning, around 6:30 a.m., Henderson told her supervisor she had not seen Alvera her entire shift, and a “Code Purple” was called.

The Warrensville Heights Police Department (WHPD) was then called to the facility. Around 8 a.m., other nurses found Alvera outside on the patio, lying on her back. Warrensville Heights EMS responded to the scene and transported Alvera to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced deceased.

Further investigation conducted by the WHPD revealed the following information. Every new nurse receives four weeks of training – which includes what to do if a resident is missing. It is also required for the nurses to check the residents every two hours. Throughout the course of her shift, Henderson falsified completing several tasks that were required to be administered to Alvera. In addition, every door should have a keypad and be locked. There was an unlocked door near Alvera’s room that led to a staircase and the patio where Alvera was found. The door locks from the outside, making it impossible for Alvera to go back inside. Henderson did not report Alvera missing throughout the course of her shift until 6:30 a.m.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner ruled Alvera’s death a result of environmental exposure with hypothermia. On January 16, 2025, Amber Henderson was arrested.

On March 26, 2025, Amber Henderson was indicted on the following charges:

  • One count of Involuntary Manslaughter
  • One count of Tampering with Records
  • One count of Patient Neglect

She will be arraigned at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center at a later date.