Phoenix police said a caregiver neglected a 50-year-old man with disabilities who then died on his watch.
Nuru Niyonkuru, 36, was booked into jail on one count of vulnerable adult abuse and was being held on a $250,000 bond.
Phoenix firefighters found the man he was hired to care for, William Henry Miller, unresponsive 5:15 p.m. April 10. Miller was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead, police confirmed.
Miller was found around 20th and State avenues near I-17, close to the Phoenix-Glendale border.
Police could not say what company Niyonkuru worked for and provided sparse details of the situation, although they did confirm the case was active and pending examination results from the medical examiner’s office which could result in additional charges.
It was not known if Miller lived at a group home. Group homes for people with disabilities are regulated by the state, and companies are required to run background checks on their employees who work with residents.
Niyonkuru did not appear to have a prior criminal record in Maricopa County, nor was his name on the state registry of people who have abused, neglected or exploited vulnerable adults.
People who suspect abuse of people with disabilities can call the state at 877-822-5799 or report it online.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Caregiver arrested after neglecting Phoenix man resulting in his death