Funeral Funds Sought For Man Who Was Assaulted In Westfield Nursing Home

WESTFIELD, NJ — After 91-year-old Herman Walker, a resident of Complete Care nursing home in Westfield, was assaulted by his roommate and died two weeks later, his family is seeking funds to pay for a proper burial.

Walker's granddaughter, Naliah Eden, created a GoFundMe page to pay for a funeral in South Carolina, where he is from originally.

Chief Christopher Battiloro told Patch that the assault was reported to Westfield Police on Jan. 4 at around 5:30 a.m. The incident is currently under investigation by both the Westfield Police Department’s Detective Bureau and the Union County Prosecutor’s Office.

Eden told News12 that Walker was assaulted by 61-year-old Francisco Figueroa. She said her grandfather's face was swollen, his eyes were swollen shut and he was bleeding from his head when she arrived at the hospital.

Eden said Walker was only living at Complete Care for around six months, and is disappointed in the way he was treated there, according to News12.

She also told Tapinto that the incident was not an "altercation" between the two roommates but that Walker was assaulted while laying in bed.

Patch reached out to Eden and Complete Care for more details but has yet to receive a response.

Administrator of Complete Care, Asher Jacobs, sent an email to families on Jan. 21 and informed the community that the man accused of the attack no longer resides at the facility.

Read more: Man Assaulted In Westfield Nursing Home Dies Two Weeks Later

Eden wrote in the GoFundMe description that Walker was "brutally assaulted" in the nursing home after "all his assets and life insurance policies where taken by the nursing home."

"He died with no insurance or life insurance and the nursing [home] refuses to pay the entire cost to give him a respectful home going," Eden wrote. "Please help me grant my grandfathers last wish for his final resting place to be South Carolina!! All he talked about in his final days was to go home please help us grant that wish!"

The GoFundMe has already raised nearly $1,700 but has a goal of reaching $7,000. You can donate to the page here.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.