A hospice worker has been sentenced to up to ten years in prison for neglecting an elderly patient who later died after being placed in her care following a mattress fire. Audrey Engler, 25, admitted to intentional dependent adult abuse resulting in serious injury at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women.
The incident occurred in Burlington, Iowa, in 2025 when the elderly patient was hospitalized and then moved to hospice care after her mattress caught fire. Engler, hired through Vibrance Homecare, was responsible for the patient’s well-being but was found to have neglected her before her passing.
Engler discouraged regular visits from a nurse, claiming the patient was adequately cared for, despite the home being in disarray. Authorities discovered the patient suffering from burns, ulcers, bed sores, and other health issues while living in unsanitary conditions.
The patient was left alone for long periods, communicating with Engler only through text messages. Engler confessed to investigators that she only visited the patient once a day and acknowledged her lack of compassion and neglect in caring for the dependent adult.
Following the patient’s death on August 14, 2025, police launched an investigation into Engler’s actions. It was revealed that the patient had not been receiving her medication while under Engler’s care.
In addition to the prison sentence, Engler was fined $1,500 (£1,124), with the payment being suspended based on her financial circumstances.
