Iowa Nurse Faces Charges in Nursing Home Death of Veteran

Becky Sue Manning, a 69-year-old licensed practical nurse, faces felony charges for the death of Marvin “Pete” Jacobs. Jacobs, an 87-year-old U.S. Army veteran was a resident at the Iowa nursing home where Manning, a 69 year-old licensed practical nurse, was employed.

Jacobs died on February 19, 2023 alone in his room at Fonda Specialty Care. Prior to this date, Jacobs had a tracheostomy performed. As a result, his airway kept getting clogged. Staff kept a suctioning machine close by his bedside to clear it out as needed.

The afternoon he died, a worker saw that Jacobs seemed to be “in trouble.” Inspectors reported that according to the aide, he was trying to breathe, pointing at his neck and mouthing that he was unable to breathe. The aide left the room to get Manning to come and suction his airway.

A news article reported that Jacobs was pale and turning purple as Manning entered the room. Instead of suctioning his airway, Manning allegedly took Jacobs vital signs and informed the aide he was having a heart attack. Later, she allegedly told inspectors that the “staff wanted me to suction him (and) I told the staff no. I was told that I would not have to do anything with the tracheostomy.”

Manning also prevented staff from calling 9-1-1 after it was clear that Jacobs was unable to breathe on his own.

Fonda Specialty Care has been fined $10,000 for Jacob’s death. However, that penalty was later reduced to $6,500.

Manning, who has yet to enter a plea, is charged with wanton neglect of a health care facility resident.

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