Man with Alzheimer’s wanders from care home; found dead in reservoir

Thursday, April 22, 1999 | 9:45 a.m.

The body of William John Hamilton, 74, was found early Tuesday at a Reno water treatment plant.

Hamilton was a ward of Washoe County. Authorities said he apparently left his room at Country Care One through a window and walked a short way before falling into the Highland Ditch.

His body floated several miles before it was caught in a grate at the water plant, police said.

The group home was licensed to care for elderly people who need limited supervision and had not applied for a license to care for people with Alzheimer's, according to the Nevada Bureau of Licensure and Certification, which regulates such facilities.

Lee Hotchkin, lawyer for Country Care owner Richard Frederick, said the state has inspected the home several times and never found any violations or recommended that Hamilton be placed to a more secure facility.

"One can't guard against any fortuitous event, but can take precautions against known dangers," Hotchkin said. "No one every pointed out any problems with the window or the screen."

Public Administrator Don Cavallo said Hamilton was placed at the center a month before becoming his ward. He added that a case worker visited him monthly and found no problems with the facility.

He added that Hamilton had been seen by a doctor and was also screened by the state to determine what level of care he needed.

Cavallo said Country Care was deemed to be an appropriate facility, adding that Hamilton did not appear to have a history of wandering.

"My reaction is that this is a tragic accident," he said.