Taking a magnifying glass to a Colonial Heights nursing home’s troubling past amid an uncertain future

COLONIAL HEIGHTS, Va. (WRIC) -- Colonial Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center's undeniably troubling past is in the spotlight once again as new information about an ongoing, recent case of elder abuse and neglect comes to light.

Earlier this week, 8News broke down where the cases stand against the defendants believed to be involved in a case stemming from last October. Now, our team is digging deeper into claims stretching back several years -- taking a magnifying glass to the past.

The city's Commonwealth's Attorney told 8News that additional victims have recently come forward, suggesting the Commonwealth has more witnesses and a bigger case than initially predicted.

"It's neglect... I think it's neglect," Hazel Drumgoole told 8News reporter Kerri O'Brien in 2021.

Just three weeks after her mother arrived at Colonial Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, she had her removed after finding bruising on her body. As made obvious by the date, this is a story from the past. Now, with the recent legal battle taking off, not much has changed.

"There is a lot more work to be done," Colonial Heights Commonwealth's Attorney Gray Collins said on Wednesday. "We're thankful for the families reaching out."

This case Colonial Heights' top prosecutor is referencing stems from last fall, when an elderly woman died shortly after leaving the center's care. This lead to the arrests of 20 people in December.

On Wednesday, March 26, 13 of those defendants appeared in court. While the facility's attorney was recently found not guilty of obstructing justice, most of their cases are still winding through the court system.

However, our team recently learned three employees, whose initial misdemeanor charges were temporarily dropped, may now be looking at steeper felonies instead.

"We have more victims that have been identified," Collins said.

Collins confirmed there's reason to believe this case is bigger than previously thought.

"The two sets of people we want to protect the most are the children and the elderly," Collins explained. "We're doing this to protect the elderly."

None of the defendants nor their attorneys wished to speak with the media. However, alleged victims' family members told 8News they want to see justice served. Right now, most of the accused are slated to be back in court later this summer.