TX - Cynthia Pierce, 73, disabled resident of a facility, died from hypothermia due to a power outage during winter storm, Austin, charges in 2025

[GuyfromCanada]

SEPT 4, 2025

Travis County, TX — Today, Travis County District Attorney José Garza announced that on July 22, 2025, a Travis County grand jury indicted Harvest Renaissance – Austin, LLC, and its former employees, Executive Director Mendi Ramsay and Wellness Director Rochelle Alvarado, for the offense of Injury to an Elderly Person.

More at Travis County District Attorney’s Office Announces Indictments Against Harvest Renaissance – Austin, LLC, and Two of Its Supervisory Employees in the Death of an Elderly Resident During the 2021 Winter Storm Power Outages - Travis County District Attorney

A 73-year-old disabled woman froze to death in an unheated room with open windows while staff at an Austin, Texas, assisted living facility ignored her plight during a historic winter storm.

Assistant living facility employees let elderly disabled woman freeze to death, indictment says

Two supervisors at an assisted living facility in Austin, Texas, have been indicted after an elderly disabled woman died from hypothermia during a winter storm.

lawandcrime.com

 

[GuyfromCanada]

This is absolutely horrible. I am speechless.

 

[GuyfromCanada]

Attorneys for the two former employees released the following statement on the indictment:

"My clients cooperated fully with the investigation into this case. February of 2021 was an unprecedented weather event for all of Texas. Roads were impassable, power outages were rampant and temperatures were below freezing for days. During this investigation, my clients accurately recounted extraordinary measures that they and their staff took to ensure resident safety during this event.

"Though the passing of one of their residents was tragic and my clients’ hearts go out to her family, it was through no fault of their own and certainly NO CRIME was committed. It is disappointing that the District Attorney's Office obtained a Grand Jury indictment given the unprecedented weather circumstances. Rest assured, my clients will plead not guilty and fight for the truth to be revealed."

Austin assisted living facility, former employees indicted in resident's 2021 winter storm death

A Travis County grand jury indicted Harvest Renaissance and its former employees for criminal negligence leading to the death of an elderly resident.

www.kvue.com

 

[Gators North]

So, why were Cynthia’s windows open during this “unprecedented weather event?”

 

[GuyfromCanada]

So, why were Cynthia’s windows open during this “unprecedented weather event?”

That's a great question. How often did the staff check on her?

 

[GuyfromCanada]

Sec. 22.04. INJURY TO A CHILD, ELDERLY INDIVIDUAL, OR DISABLED INDIVIDUAL. (a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence, by act or intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly by omission, causes to a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual:
(1) serious bodily injury;
(2) serious mental deficiency, impairment, or injury; or
(3) bodily injury.

(a-1) A person commits an offense if the person is an owner, operator, or employee of a group home, nursing facility, assisted living facility, boarding home facility, intermediate care facility for persons with an intellectual or developmental disability, or other institutional care facility and the person intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence by omission causes to a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual who is a resident of that group home or facility:
(1) serious bodily injury;
(2) serious mental deficiency, impairment, or injury; or
(3) bodily injury.

More at PENAL CODE CHAPTER 22. ASSAULTIVE OFFENSES

 

[Clearsky]

Texas assisted living facility left disabled woman to freeze to death: cops

Cynthia Pierce was left inside an unheated room at Harvest Renaissance on Feb. 17, as historic Winter Storm Uri passed through the region.

nypost.com

Cynthia Pierce was left inside an unheated room at Harvest Renaissance on Feb. 17, 2021, as historic Winter Storm Uri passed through the region.