Portsmouth woman found guilty in Dover nursing home abuse case

Samantha Siegel (Dover Police photo)

CONCORD - A Portsmouth woman who worked at a Dover nursing home was found guilty in Strafford County Superior Court on Thursday of simple assault and abuse of a facility patient.

Samantha Siegel, 19, was working as a licensed nursing assistant at St. Ann's Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in July of 2018 when she made a recording of herself putting her hand over a 92-year old resident's mouth to prevent the resident from speaking, according to court documents and testimony in court. She then placed a caption on the video that reads "when you can't deal w[ith] the talking anymore."

St. Ann's Rehabilitation and Nursing Center learned of the allegations on July 20, 2018, after receiving a tip from a retail store employee who saw Siegel display the recording on her phone.

St. Ann's staff immediately notified the Dover Police Department and terminated Siegel.

Siegel was found guilty of both charges last June 4 in the 7th Circuit Court - District Division - Dover, which she appealed to the Strafford County Superior Court for a jury trial.

Siegel is scheduled to be sentenced in the Strafford County Superior Court on May 12.

Under New Hampshire law, the Attorney General is responsible for the prosecution of health care facility employees charged with willful abuse, mistreatment or neglect of a patient. Health care facility employees suspected of abusing their patients should be reported to the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (603) 271-1246, your local police department, or the Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services (800) 949-0470.