Lack of Training

WRAL reported that Cynthia Williams Sellars pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of a resident at a Fuquay-Varina assisted living facility.
Prosecutors said that Sellars pushed 88-year-old Lillie Cooper to the ground on September 24th, 2023, after arguing with her at the Windsor Point Retirement Community. Lillie Cooper passed away due to her injuries from Sellars.

In court, Sellars said, “I didn’t mean [any] harm,” and “I’m sorry.” Lillie Cooper’s family attorney, Philip Miller, said that he appreciated what Sellars had to say as it “seemed heartfelt and sincere” and that the family is “relieved this is over.”

Cooper’s family provided a statement describing how the Windsor Point Retirement Community incident should have never happened. Donna Furnas, Cooper’s daughter, shared, “Ms. Sellars didn’t have enough training and compassion to handle a dementia person.”

Awaiting the trial, Sellars served 10 months in prison and will spend at least another 10 months. She could be there for up to one year and 11 months. Had Sellars been found guilty of a first-degree murder charge, she would face life in prison or the death penalty.

Sellars’s defense attorney, Crystal Grimes, said, “You honor, what I can tell you [is] Ms. Sellars never intentionally did anything to harm Ms. Cooper,” and
“Did she handle the situation correctly? No, she’s taking responsibility for that.”

Cooper’s other daughter, Sandra Lockamon, shared her thoughts during the plea and expressed her sadness in the loss of her mother, “Cynthia Sellars not only took the life of my mother, but the life of a grandmother and a great-grandmother,” and “We will miss her more than words can express.”

Officers responded to the call from Windsor Point Retirement Community that indicated a facility worker had argued with a resident. Ms. Cooper suffered multiple substantial injuries, one being a broken hip. Sadly, Ms. Cooper passed away after authorities rushed her to the hospital to treat her broken hip. The medical examiner ruled her death as a homicide.

Police believe there was a history between Cooper and Sellars, which may have led to this altercation. Sellars was cooperative when police arrived. The incident was caught on surveillance, which caught Sellars collapsing to the floor after police started yelling at her.