Healthcare Center Death Ruled Homicide; No Charges Expected

Franconia Police District –On June 15, 2016, Homicide Squad detectives received a call from an investigator with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner reporting a death.

The decedent, 87-year-old, Danielle Griffin, was a resident of Leewood Healthcare Center, located at 7120 Braddock Road in Annandale.

Detectives learned that on May 8, 2016, Griffin and another female healthcare center resident had argued and that the other resident had pushed Griffin, causing her to fall to the ground. Griffin was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital and was diagnosed with a fractured hip. She was treated and then released on May 13.

On June 15 at around 3:30 in the morning, Griffin was found by healthcare center staff, lying in her bed, complaining of shortness of breath. The staff immediately called 911 and Griffin was once again taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital. Her condition declined rapidly and she was pronounced dead at about 5:43 that same morning.

During the subsequent investigation, detectives were told that Griffin had been diagnosed with Dementia and Hypertension.

An autopsy was performed and in late October of 2016, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner reported the manner of Danielle Griffin’s death to be homicide and the cause of death was complications of a hip fracture with extensive additional contributing medical conditions.

Detectives continued their investigation and learned that the other female resident who had pushed Griffin back in May, also suffers from diminished mental capacity.

During the course of the investigation, detectives have been in consultation with the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Fairfax County, to determine the proper classification of this case and the appropriate course of action.

At this point, given the totality of the circumstances, no charges are expected to be placed in this case.

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