Man charged with sexually assaulting nursing home patient
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Updated: 6:55 PM Jun 23, 2009
Man charged with sexually assaulting nursing home patient
Police in Frankfort are investigating an assault at a nursing home and they already have a suspect.
Posted: 11:42 AM Jun 23, 2009
Reporter: Janet Kim
Email Address: janet.kim@wkyt.com
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Last week, Police say an 87-year old patient was touched inappropriately by a visitor at the Bradford Square Rehabilitation and Nursing center.

That visitor was 84-year old Harrison Blankenship, who was arrested for First Degree Sexual Assault, after police say a staff member from the nursing walked in on the alleged act.

Police reports say a nurse saw Blakenship pushing the patient down the hall into her room, then noticed he didn't come out. The witness says the curtain was pulled closed and when she opened it, she says the suspect sexually abusing the patient.

Blankenship spoke with 27 NEWSFIRST, who says this is all a big misunderstanding. He tells us he was there to see his wife, when another patient in a wheelchair asked him to take her to her room. He said he was patting her shoulder goodbye, when the nurse walked in and got the wrong idea.

This statement was released by the nursing center administrator Lisa Veteto, "As a healthcare provider, we are obligated to follow stringent privacy regulations regarding our current residents and cannot elaborate on any detail regarding this situation. Our center however, took immediate steps to contact authorities, Adult Protective Services and the family members. The resident is safe, but for precautionary reasons we have asked for a complete medical exam. I would like to remind families with loved ones in our care center to contact me personally, if they have any concerns."

Blankenship was released from the Franklin County Regional Jail, but has since been released on his own recognizance. He is a registered sex offender for the rape in the third degree of a 13-year old in 1995. His status is listed as compliant on the registry.


Latest Comments

Posted by: Clinging Ivy Location: Frankfort on Jun 27, 2009 at 02:41 PM

I feel so sorry for those people who live in nursing homes. You can put your relative in one that is rated highly, but it will not guaratee their safety. When my mohter was in a nursing home ( not the one mentioned in this article), I would make visits unannounced so the staff would be on their toes. What I ended up doing was to find four good women, taking turns to stay with my mom during the night. I observed that if you did not have a family member checking in on a loved one, that loved one would usually be sedated and lying in a fetal position. I can tell you that weekends are the worse as there are too few nurse's aids. The nursing home where mom was said they were in compliance with state regulations---two nurse's aids per 25 patients. There is NO way two aids can give good care to this number of patients. Well, that ends my 'sermon on the mount".
Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 25, 2009 at 04:59 PM

if it messed with a 13 year old kid why is he out any way? should got 50 years
Posted by: DA Location: Lawrenceburg on Jun 24, 2009 at 11:42 PM

I really am tired of spending our money for people-we are paying health care-they have heat & air -food at our expense-he should have been done away with--like the rest of offenders & then maybe they would think twice before anyone else is abused
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