A former nursing assistant in Baton Rouge has been indicted on a charge of negligent homicide following the death of a patient she was caring for earlier this year, according to Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill.
Authorities said Diamond Johnson, of Zachary, was indicted by a grand jury after an investigation conducted by the Louisiana Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The charge stems from a June 2024 incident at Jefferson Manor, a nursing home in Baton Rouge, where Johnson was employed at the time.
According to Murrill’s office, Johnson was using a hydraulic lift to transfer a female patient from a chair to a bed when the patient slipped from the side of the device and fell. The woman reportedly landed on the metal base of the lift, suffering severe injuries.
The patient became unresponsive roughly 40 minutes after the fall and could not be revived despite resuscitation efforts by medical staff. An autopsy later determined that she died from complications related to blunt force injuries sustained during the incident.
Following a review of the evidence, a Baton Rouge grand jury returned an indictment on October 2, charging Johnson with negligent homicide. “These cases are very difficult, but my job as Attorney General is to protect the citizens of this state, especially those who can’t protect themselves,” Murrill wrote in a statement shared on Facebook.
Johnson was taken into custody and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. She remains under investigation as authorities continue to gather additional details about the circumstances surrounding the fatal accident.
The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, which investigates abuse, neglect, and exploitation in care facilities, has been leading the inquiry. Officials said the case underscores the importance of proper training and strict safety standards in nursing homes and assisted living environments.
Jefferson Manor has not released a public statement regarding the indictment or whether Johnson remains employed by the facility. The nursing home, like others across the state, is subject to federal and state regulations meant to ensure patient safety during medical procedures and transfers.
The death has reignited discussions among advocates for elder care reform, who argue that staffing shortages, training lapses, and overworked employees can increase the risk of preventable tragedies. Diamond Johnson faces serious legal consequences as the investigation continues, and prosecutors work to determine whether systemic failures at the facility may have also contributed to the patient’s death.