ROCK HILL, SC (WBTV) - A 30-year-old employee at an assisted living facility was charged with murder Thursday after police say an elderly woman was found dead in her shower, one day after she talked to police about stolen checks.
82-year-old Pauline Cook was found dead in what they call a "suspicious scene" on Sunday at the Oak Bridge Terrace Assisted Living Residences on the campus of the Park Pointe Village Assisted Living facility along Chesbrough Boulevard, according to Rock Hill Police.
Cook's family told WBTV that the she was found "badly bruised" in her shower early Sunday morning.
On Thursday, police charged 30-year-old Braquette Wykina Walton, an employee at Park Pointe Village, with murder in Cook's death. According to the police report, Walton was charged on Thursday afternoon at 12:42 p.m.
The investigation began when the York County Coroner's Office called police because "the victim's injuries were not consistent with what initially appeared to be a fall," officers said early Thursday morning.
According to a Rock Hill police report, officers were called to Park Pointe Village the day before after Cook reported someone had stolen her checks.
Cook told police that she "received a print out of the checks that had been [cashed] over a period of time from her bank account with BB&T," the report states.
Officers say Cook noticed four checks that had been written did not match her signature, telling police the checks had been made out to Walton. The four checks totaled $1,280, the report states, and were written between October 12 and November 1.
Cook told the officers that the Walton had access to the residents' apartments.
Walton was not at work at the time that police took the complaint, the report states.
Police were called back out to Oak Bridge Terrace on Sunday morning around 8:35 a.m. after Cook's body was found in the shower of her apartment.
She was found by the nursing staff around 6:30 a.m., who attempted CPR and called for medical help, the police report states.
York County Coroner Sabrina Gast called police after she noticed officers were there the day before.
"This crime does not appear to be a random act of violence," Police Chief John Gregory told WBTV early Thursday morning.
On Monday morning, officers arrested Walton while she was driving down Plaza Boulevard towards her home and charged her in connection with the stolen checks. She was charged with Forgery and Utering and transported to the Rock Hill jail.
She was given additional charges for murder on Thursday afternoon.
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The following is a statement from the OakBridge Terrace Assisted Living Residences, who run the Park Pointe Village:
"On Sunday, November 13, we became aware of some unusual circumstances involving the death of one of our residents, which we immediately reported to the appropriate authorities. Words cannot begin to express our sorrow and we extend our deepest sympathies to our resident's family and friends. We appreciate the outpouring support of our residents and staff, and members of the greater community."
"We are cooperating fully with law enforcement officials and have learned that an arrest has been made. Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, we cannot share any further details. We ask that any further information be obtained through the Rock Hill Police Department."
"We ask that you continue to keep the resident's family and our community in your thoughts and prayers."
- OakBridge Terrace Assisted Living Residences
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