Complications from a spine fracture killed an elderly man who died after a fight in a local nursing home, an autopsy report released Thursday says.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is investigating Orval Leland Lindell’s death as a homicide. No arrests have been made.
Lindell, 88, died 10 days after a fight last month with his roommate at the Desert Life Rehabilitation and Care Center on the Northwest Side.
The Sheriff’s Department had listed his death as occurring on June 24, but the autopsy report says Lindell died June 21. An autopsy was conducted June 26.
The report from the Pima County Forensic Science Center says Lindell fell and struck his head during the fight.
The report also says Lindell’s past medical history includes dementia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease and diabetes.
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“In consideration of the known circumstances surrounding this death, the available medical history and the examination of the remains, the cause of death is ascribed to complications of a cervical spine fracture,” the report says. “The manner of death is homicide.”
The state, which licenses Desert Life, is conducting its own investigation. Desert Life told the state’s Department of Health Services that both Lindell and his roommate were elderly and suffering from dementia.
Kindred Healthcare, the parent company of Desert Life, said in a statement that the nursing home called emergency services immediately, reported the incident to authorities and is cooperating in the investigation.
Lindell, whose wife died six years ago, had been living on his own in a North Side apartment and driving his car until a small series of strokes in the spring.
A World War II veteran, he had two daughters as well as four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He had lived in Tucson for about 18 years.
