The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing at Mohawk Valley in Ilion, N.Y., where staff members allegedly “ignored” a woman as she choked to death on a meatball (Google Maps).
A disabled woman at a New York nursing home choked on a meatball while staff members allegedly stood by and “ignored the resident” without rendering aid or getting help. They then left the 34-year-old “slumped face down” on a dining table for nearly an hour and a half before finally calling 911, officials say.
Dietary aide Mary Stocking, 74, nurse Mara Lasher, 33, and facility administrator Michael Sutter, 42, are all facing criminal charges in connection with the choking death of the patient, who has not been publicly identified, at The Grand at Mohawk Valley in Ilion last August.
The charges were announced Thursday by the New York State Attorney General’s Office. Stocking, Lasher and Sutter all worked at The Grand nursing home at the time of the victim’s death.
“The resident allegedly began her stay at The Grand three days before her death on Aug. 23, 2025, after being transferred from a rehabilitation hospital with instructions that she receive continuous one-on-one supervision,” the AG’s office said in a press release. “The resident suffered from a rare genetic condition that caused tumors throughout her body, which made it difficult to swallow solid food. She also suffered from an eating disorder that caused insatiable hunger and drove her to compulsively eat.”
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The woman’s “mental and physical health challenges” put her at a high risk of choking that required “constant supervision” during all hours of the day and night to keep her safe, according to the AG’s office.
Her family stressed the importance of “one-on-one supervision” for her to The Grand, but an investigation found that Sutter allegedly discontinued the resident’s one-on-one supervision, including while eating, after her first night at the facility.
“During lunch at The Grand’s dining hall on Aug. 23, the resident was allegedly left alone and unattended next to the leftover food of two other residents who had finished eating and left the dining room,” the AG’s office explained. “The resident grabbed a meatball from one of the trays, swallowed it, and began choking.”
Stocking allegedly saw the resident choking and “intentionally refused to call for assistance,” according to the AG’s office. Lasher allegedly entered the dining hall and failed to check on the resident when she observed her “slumped face down” across the dining room table, unresponsive, with her arms extended in front of her.
“The resident remained in the dining hall for nearly an hour and a half until other staff members finally brought her to her room and called 911,” the AG’s office said. “She was pronounced dead in her room.”
New York State Attorney General Letitia James said there is “no excuse for the kind of shocking and heartless conduct that leads to the deaths of vulnerable nursing home residents” like the victim.
“My office has zero tolerance for abuse and neglect of those in need of care, and we are determined to deliver justice for all who have been victimized,” James said.
Stocking, Lasher and Sutter were indicted in Herkimer County Court last week. All three were charged with first-degree endangering the welfare of a vulnerable elderly person, or an incompetent or physically disabled person, as well as willful violation of health laws.
Stocking faces an additional charge of second-degree manslaughter.
Sutter and Lasher could face up to four years in state prison if convicted. Stocking could face up to 25 years.
The Grand told Law&Crime there was “no one available” to provide a statement when reached for comment Monday.
The post Nursing home staff ‘ignored’ 34-year-old woman choking to death on meatball, left her ‘slumped face down’ on table for 90 minutes before calling 911: AG first appeared on Law & Crime.
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