Senior care facility that employed woman accused of murdering 87-year-old resident shuts down
A La Quinta senior care facility has closed its doors just a few months after a caregiver allegedly brutally murdered an 87-year-old resident.
A social services representative confirmed that Sunbrook Residential Care officials notified the department they would be shutting down.
The closure was confirmed on Thursday when a state investigator toured the facility to ensure there were no residents still in care. Two residents were relocated to another facility.
On November 21, Cristina Canimo, 32, of Palm Desert, was arrested and is now on trial charged with torturing and murdering Ronald Clarke, an 87-year-old resident at Sunbrook. Canimo then allegedly dumped Clarke's body in a trash can within the Esplanade gated community in La Quinta.
Watch: Exclusive - Lawsuit alleges elder abuse at care facility where body was dumped in trash
Canimo is accused of using a knife, boxcutter, screwdriver, and hammer in the murder. She's now eligible for the death penalty.
Two months ago at the facility, News Channel 3's Jake Ingrassia located the owners of Sunbrook, Ron and Ramona Sykes. They shut the door in his face and declined to comment.
The phones there have been disconnected.
In December, a judge ordered that Canimo be psychologically evaluated. She's due back in court the first week in March.
Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage.
