Elderly, dementia-stricken veteran found dead inside walk-in freezer at assisted living facility

In a tragic incident, an elderly veteran suffering from dementia was discovered deceased inside a walk-in freezer at an assisted living facility after his daughter realized he was missing.

William Eugene Ray, an 83-year-old veteran of the US Navy and a father of two, had been displaying signs of rapidly advancing dementia throughout the summer. As a response, his daughter, Kristen Spencer, set up a Ring camera in his room at Waverly Assisted Living and Memory Care located in Trinity, Florida.

The camera enabled Spencer to monitor her father’s well-being even when she couldn’t visit him in person. Despite noticing his increasing disorientation, she had faith that he was being cared for appropriately.

“You trust them with your loved one,” she told Fox 13.

In May, Ray’s family made the heartbreaking choice to place him in assisted living to provide him with the specialized care he required.

On September 26, Spencer reviewed the Ring footage and noticed that while “the light was on,” her father was “not in his room.

Upon rewinding the footage, she discovered that Ray had left his room around 12:30 a.m. the previous night and had not come back, as reported by Fox 13.

After calling her mother, who in turn contacted the facility, a staff member found Ray’s body trapped in a walk-in freezer just a few hours later.

“But then her next words were, ‘He’s in the freezer.’ I was stunned and asked, ‘What do you mean he’s in the freezer?’” Spencer recounted to the outlet.

The Pasco Sheriff’s Office announced that their preliminary investigation found no evidence of foul play.

Since Ray’s admission to the facility, Spencer mentioned there had been “no issues,” but gradually, “little things” began to raise concerns.

Now, the family is seeking answers.

“If we hadn’t called the facility, how long would it have taken for them to find him?” Spencer questioned.

She emphasized their desire to ensure that “no other family has to endure this kind of heartbreak.”

“In places where vulnerable individuals reside, securing these areas is vital,” she stated.

Waverly responded, defending their staff and urged the public to refrain from leaving “unregulated, anonymous, non-factual reviews” online.

“We have never encountered an incident of this type in our years of operating in the Assisted Living sector. Our community is heartbroken by this tragic loss. The grief felt by our staff is beyond words. We are immensely proud of our team’s immediate and compassionate response to the situation and grateful for their ongoing professionalism,” read a statement from The Waverly, which was obtained by the outlet.

“We remain confident in the quality of service and care we provide as one of Florida’s premier assisted living and memory care communities.”

Ray, affectionately known as Gene by his friends and family, enlisted in the Navy at just 17 years old and concluded a remarkable 36-year career in the armed forces.

After his military service, he worked at a private land surveying company before securing a position at the Department of Transportation in Bartow, Florida, according to his obituary.