Woman Injured At Sturdy Hospital Dies: Now Family Wants Answers

ATTLEBORO, MA — Police are now involved in an incident at Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro after a family claims their mother was beaten by a staff member.

Carol Smith's daughters say someone at the hospital beat their mother to the point where she was left with a broken nose, a swollen eye, multiple fractures to her skull, and bruises on her cheek and ear, WHDH reported.

Smith, a 77-year-old grandmother, died Monday, August 2, after suffering a brain bleed, WBZ reported. Smith was originally admitted to Sturdy Memorial Hospital Friday, July 30 after falling at home and injuring her back.

Her daughter, Jennifer Shannon says when she went to visit her mother that Sunday, she did not have any cuts, bruises, or additional injuries, but she was complaining about her back, WBZ reported.

On Monday, Shannon says she got a call from the hospital saying her mother had an altercation with one of the nurses. She said, "The doctor told me she tried to hit them, and your mother fell," WBZ says.

Shannon responded by asking where the cameras and video footage are, but the report says Shannon was told there were no cameras on that floor.

WHDH claims that Shannon said her mother told her, "She beat me! She beat me! Look what she did she beat me."

"Sturdy Medical saying first she was combative and got into an altercation with a nurse then a day or two later changing the story to 'she hit a wheelchair, fell and hit a wheelchair,'" WHDH reported Smith's other daughter Terrie Jordan saying.

Patch reached out to the Attleboro Police Department and was told they were unable to comment on the investigation.

The Bristol County District Attorney says it is investigating Smith's death and is awaiting autopsy results.