The death of an 80-year-old Alzheimer’s patient who died after a fight in an Oak Park nursing home remains under investigation, Oak Park police said Monday. The death has been ruled a homicide.
Anibal Calderon, 80, died Feb. 14 of head injuries after an alleged altercation with another resident two days earlier in Oak Park Healthcare Center, authorities said. The other resident involved in the altercation, who is 66, was moved to an unidentified hospital, authorities said. That resident has not been identified by authorities.
Robert Calderon, the son of the man who died, said he was told by detectives that his father and the other resident were the only residents in the hall at the time of the incident. He said the nurse on duty heard a yell and got up out of a chair, which was around the corner, and his dad was lying on the ground.
“There was a big pop of flesh-on-flesh,” Robert Calderon said. “After they called 911, I was told my dad woke up and answered a few questions.”
To his understanding, Robert Calderon said his father and the other patient involved in the incident never got along, ever since his father got there.
“They didn’t see eye to eye,” Calderon said. “They’ve always had words, but this time he just turned around and clocked him one.”
Robert Calderon said his father worked for various companies as a general labor worker, working hourly through his adult life. His father was a big White Sox fan, Robert Calderon said, with a smile for everyone he met.
“There was never anybody he didn’t think was a friend,” Robert Calderon said. “He’d give the shirt off his back to anyone. These are things I knew but took for granted.”
Robert Calderon said his family decided to take his father to Oak Park Healthcare three years ago.
Oak Park Police are still investigating and no charges have been brought related to the case, Commander LaDon Reynolds said Monday.
“The case is still under investigation,” Reynolds said.
The family also has hired Chicago-based law firm Levin and Perconti to investigate what happened. Robert Calderon lives in Texas. His sister, Diane Crossman, lives in Tennessee. Their mother, Bertha, still lives in Romeoville where the family was raised, he said.
