double murder at an elderly group home in Las Vegas

Elderly group home resident commits double murder in Las Vegas

It’s no secret that there is an increase in crime during the holiday season, however the double murder at an elderly group home in Las Vegas seems especially heartbreaking.

David Settle, 68 was a resident of the Washington Senior Guest Home located at 3709 W. Washington Ave in Las Vegas. He apparently killed an 82-year-old resident, Henry Namett as well as a caregiver at the facility, Elenita Ablao, 59

David Settle (Photo: LVMPD)

Both were beaten to death with a hammer on Sunday.

After Settle committed the gruesome crimes, he then scooped up some spare change and made stops at both Walgreens and 7-11 to purchase wine and cigars. He returned to the Washington Senior Guest Home and apparently tried to kill himself.

Why did Settle so callously murder two people?

Varying reports say that he had nothing bad to say about the victims but he mentioned that he was not taken to his AA meeting and felt the owner might be taking advantage of him financially.

There are so many group homes in Las Vegas that you can’t help wonder about licensing procedures so we looked up the group home.

Back in 2009, the Washington Senior Guest Home received a D rating when records were reviewed. The infractions concerned the training of the staff as well as failure to properly dispense medications.

Just 2 months later, in April of 2009, the facility received an A rating, a remarkable turnaround, especially considering that the staff was not trained appropriately just two months prior.

In August of 2011, the facility again received an A rating, although there were notations of residents again not receiving their medication as prescribed by a doctor.

This year, in July, 2012, the facility yet again received an A rating but there was no visit to the facility, according to a notation on the evaluation.

Could an in-person visit to physically inspect the facility have prevented the double murder at an elderly group home in Las Vegas?  Maybe, maybe not.

Perhaps a physical on-site inspection would have shown an individual that was totally unhinged and needed to be moved elsewhere.  Perhaps not.

One thing for sure, don’t assume that because a group home tells you they received an A rating, that the place was actually visually visited or inspected.

The evaluation might have been conducted remotely, a simple records review. Not a physical inspection.

It’s shocking that evaluations are performed this way. Could you imagine the potential ramifications if this system was used to grade restaurants?

Yet this very system is deemed worthy to check on those that have been entrusted to appropriately care for, and protect, the elderly and disabled.

No wonder there seems to be group homes opening everywhere!

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