Supervisor arrested after woman froze to death at Windsor Locks nursing home faced prior charges

The family of a 93-year-old woman who froze to death after wandering out of a Windsor Locks nursing home and lawmakers are calling for changes to background check and hiring policies after court records revealed one of the former employees charged in the case is facing sexual assault charges.

Two former employees of Bickford Health Care Center are facing charges in connection with the death of Margaret Healey, who investigators say wandered from the facility during dangerously cold weather and later died after spending hours outside.

The case has sparked criticism from family members and renewed debate at the State Capitol over whether stricter safeguards are needed for employees working with vulnerable residents.

“You have to get a background check before you’re hired, but there needs to be intermittent background checks along the way just to confirm that nobody has been charged with something as egregious as sexual assault,” said state Sen. Heather Somers (R-Groton).

Questions about hiring practices intensified after court records showed former shift supervisor Papy Bibo, one of the employees charged in Healey’s death, was arrested in 2020 on multiple sexual assault charges.

According to court documents, a female relative accused Bibo of sexually assaulting her beginning when she was in seventh grade. Police records indicate Bibo denied at least some of the allegations.

It is unclear when a background check may have been conducted by the nursing home. Federal law appears to require certain convictions before an individual is disqualified applying to work in long-term care facilities.

“I think there has to be legislation that if you’re under charges of felony violent felonies that you can’t be hired where people are vulnerable,” said state Rep. Jane Garibay (D – Windsor Locks).

For Healey’s family, the criminal case and calls for reform come after months of grief and unanswered questions.

“It didn’t have to happen. It really did not have to happen,” said Healey’s niece, Eileen Mucha.

Mucha also worked at Bickford Health Care Center but was away on a trip when her aunt disappeared. She said she still remembers their final conversation before she left.

“I said, ‘I’m going to Florida. I love you. I’ll see you in two weeks.’ She said, ‘I love you, too.’ Blew me a kiss,” said Mucha.

Investigators allege that after Healey was found outside, Bibo waited more than an hour before calling 911.

“Somebody needs to be held accountable for what happened. That’s my reaction. And I think that they didn’t follow procedures and policies,” said Mucha.

The nursing home has since closed, and all residents have been transferred to other facilities.

NBC Connecticut has previously reported difficulty reaching the facility’s owners for comment.

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