Indictments for St. Rita's Nursing Home Owners

In one of the most heartbreaking stories to come out of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, the owners of St. Rita's Nursing Home have been indicted on 35 counts of negligent homicide.

Salvador and Mabel Mangano were initially arrested about two weeks after the Aug. 29, 2005, storm, but a grand jury was unable to convene for months because of damage to government buildings and the displacement of residents.

The couple, who remained free on bond Wednesday, owned St. Rita's nursing home in St. Bernard Parish, a coastal suburb of New Orleans badly flooded by Katrina.

Attorneys in the case were prevented from commenting by a gag order.

The Manganos were originally arrested on 34 counts of negligent homicide, but the grand jury added a 35th count in its indictment, representing a body that was found later. The grand jury also added the cruelty charges.

The indictment for cruelty alleges the couple "intentionally or through criminal negligence" mistreated or neglected 64 patients. It is believed to cover both patients who died and those who survived.

My earlier coverage of St. Ritas is here and here and here.