OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Three people face charges of abuse of a vulnerable adult following an investigation into the death of a 44-year-old man earlier this year at an assisted living home for adults with developmental disabilities.

Duet supervisor Sam Breakfield Jr., 58, and employees Lisa Valentine, also 58, and Lisa Felix, 61, were arrested to face felony charges of Class 3A in the death of Zachary Hunter.

Court records filed earlier this month show Hunter’s parents were never contacted in the days leading up to his death about their son’s deteriorating health.

Around 1 a.m. Monday, April 29, Hunter was found unresponsive on the floor of his bedroom at a home near 63rd and Whitmore streets, northwest of 60th Street and Sorensen Parkway. Court documents filed Oct. 8 show Hunter has the mental capacity of a 10-year-old child and is unable to take care of himself. According to those records, the investigation took several months, in part because subpoenas had to be issued for medical staff notes called “T-logs.”

An autopsy performed on April 30 revealed that Hunter died of E. coli sepsis due to a perforation in his colon. Sepsis, often called blood poisoning, requires prompt treatment.

Hunter had been diagnosed with – and was on several medications for – irritable bowel syndrome and depression. The records also showed that he had not eaten since the previous Friday. He had gone to work that day as per his usual routine, but returned home early when he did not feel well.

According to court records, investigators determined that Hunter continued to complain of not feeling well over the weekend and reported having extreme abdominal pain and being nauseous, light-headed and sweaty — but did not take his medication or eat . His symptoms worsened and he started vomiting and ‘thrashing’ in his bedroom, crying and screaming – but he still wouldn’t take medicine or let his temperature be taken and refused to go to hospital .

Felix, one of the Duet employees caring for Hunter, told investigators it wasn’t unusual for him to cry and scream all night. She also said she was advised by Duet nursing staff to contact Hunter’s doctor Monday morning about his condition, according to court documents. T-logs also confirmed that she contacted the nursing staff about Hunter’s condition on Sunday night and was told to keep trying to get him to eat or take his medication.

Felix then reached Valentine, who came home to help her. Upon her arrival, Valentine contacted Breakfield, her supervisor, who told her that Hunter had the right to refuse treatment. She relayed that information to Felix, created a T-log entry at 12:18 am on Monday, April 29 with a note indicating the same, then left the residence.

At 1:04 a.m. on April 29, Felix called 911 after hearing a loud “boom” and finding him on the floor of his room. Hunter was pronounced dead at the home by Omaha fire paramedics at 1:16 a.m

Records show no T records were filed for Hunter at any time on Saturday, April 27.

The three Duet employees made their first appearance in Douglas County Court: Felix and Valentine appeared in court Friday afternoon; Breakfield’s court appearance was Thursday.

All three were released on their own recognizance and have preliminary hearings set for Dec. 4.

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