A former nursing assistant has been indicted for negligent homicide, after a patient died from injuries following a fall from a hydraulic lift. 

Diamond Johnson, 34, was indicted by a grand jury following an investigation from the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

Johnson was working as a certified nursing assistant at Jefferson Manor, a nursing home in Baton Rouge, in June 2024 when she used a hydraulic lift to move a patient from a chair to a bed. During the attempt, authorities say the patient fell out of the side of a sling holding her and landed on the ground. 

After about 40 minutes, the patient lost consciousness and could not be resuscitated. An autopsy later revealed the patient died of blunt force trauma.

Johnson was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill released this statement after the indictment.

“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. As to the facts of this case, the grand jury felt, as we did, that Ms. Johnson was negligent in the care she provided to the victim, who unfortunately lost her life as a result of that negligence.”

An investigation remains ongoing.