TRENTON, NJ – A director of nursing at an Ocean County rehabilitation center has been indicted on multiple charges after allegedly assaulting a resident and attempting to conceal the attack, according to the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General.
Attorney General Matthew Platkin announced that 59-year-old Patricia Linda-Ahono of Irvington was indicted by a state grand jury in July and arraigned this week on charges including aggravated assault, neglect of an elderly or disabled adult, witness tampering, and falsifying records.
Prosecutors say the incident occurred on June 24, 2023, at Crystal Lake Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Bayville, where Linda-Ahono allegedly struck a resident identified as E.N.J. with a broom during a physical altercation captured on video.
The footage, recorded by another nurse, allegedly shows the victim bleeding from the hand while Linda-Ahono is heard saying, “Call (staff member) before I kill this man.”
Officials allege cover-up effort followed assault
Investigators say Linda-Ahono falsified an internal incident report, claiming the confrontation happened four days earlier and that the resident attacked her first with a razor. The report also stated police and emergency services were contacted, though witnesses and officials later confirmed that no such calls were made.
Authorities further allege Linda-Ahono instructed staff not to contact law enforcement and falsely reported notifying state oversight agencies — notifications that those agencies confirmed never occurred.
Investigation triggered by leaked video
After the video surfaced publicly, the Berkeley Township Police Department and the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit launched a joint investigation. During the inquiry, officers reportedly overheard Linda-Ahono on a phone call telling a supervisor, “You don’t remember anything, right?” when questioned about the incident.
She was arrested on July 24 and arraigned on October 6. Prosecutors say the case is being handled by the Division of Criminal Justice under Director Theresa L. Hilton and Deputy Attorney General Camille McKnight.
Serious penalties possible if convicted
If convicted, Linda-Ahono faces potential prison terms ranging from 18 months to 10 years, depending on the degree of each offense, and fines that could exceed $150,000.