Facility Alert: Resident-on-Resident Abuse in Florida Assisted Living Facility Leads to Death and Arrest

According to Miami Police and local news reports (NBC 6), authorities are investigating an alleged resident-on-resident altercation at Princess Garden Assisted Living Facility in Miami that tragically left one man dead and another detained.

Police stated that a 79-year-old resident named Jerome John Babij was arrested and charged with second-degree murder after allegedly choking his roommate, who later died at the hospital. At one point, the report described that the suspect yelled, "He's trying to kill me!" Witnesses reported intervening during the incident, which occurred in the early morning hours of August 26, 2025.

This tragic event underscores a painful truth: when assisted living facilities fail to identify and manage aggressive behaviors, resident-on-resident abuse can escalate into catastrophic harm.

Resident-on-Resident Abuse in Florida Assisted Living Facilities

Resident-on-resident abuse is among the most foreseeable—and preventable—dangers in long-term care, including assisted living facilities (ALFs). When a facility admits residents with known histories of aggression or violent behavior, it has a duty to implement strict supervision and safety protocols to protect others. That responsibility does not end at admission. When an assisted living facility later learns of a resident’s aggressive behavior, it must take appropriate action to prevent future harm to the resident and others.

Far too often, ALFs:

• Ignore the warning signs of escalating aggression,

• Fail to provide adequate staffing or training to manage residents with behavioral issues,

• Neglect monitoring obligations, leaving residents unsupervised, and

• Fail to notify treating physicians and families of changes in behaviors.

  
  

The consequences of these failures are not abstract. Rather, they manifest as serious injuries, trauma, and even wrongful death. Under Florida law, ALFs that ignore warning signs or fail to act can and should be held accountable.

Florida’s Assisted Living Facility Resident Bill of Rights

Under the Florida Assisted Living Facility Resident Bill of Rights (Fla. Stat. § 429.28), ALF residents are guaranteed:

• The right to live in a safe and decent living environment, free from abuse and neglect.

• The right to be treated with dignity, respect, and privacy.

• The right to receive adequate and appropriate health care, including timely intervention when behavioral issues arise.

• The right to voice grievances and complaints without retaliation.

• The right to exercise all civil and legal protections guaranteed under state and federal law.

When a facility fails to uphold these rights, residents are placed at risk of preventable harm, including abuse, neglect, serious injury, and even wrongful death. Such failures may constitute violations of Florida law and can expose the facility to civil liability and regulatory penalties. Families should know that these rights are enforceable, and ALFs that disregard them can be held accountable.

Protecting Your Loved One

For families, the hardest part of cases like this is knowing that much of the harm is preventable. Assisted living facilities are entrusted with protecting vulnerable residents, but too often it's families who first notice the warning signs.

Red flags of inadequate supervision or failure to address behavioral risks may include:

• Unexplained bruises, scratches, or sudden changes in mood.

• Reports of fights, bullying, or threats from other residents.

• Lack of staff presence in hallways, dining rooms, or other common spaces.

• Delayed responses to emergencies or residents' calls for help.

• Staff failing to communicate changes in behavior to physicians or families.

• Retaliation, or the fear of retaliation, when residents or families raise concerns.

Families who see these warning signs should document everything and raise concerns directly with the assisted living facility. If the facility fails to take corrective action, the next step is to file a complaint with the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). And if a resident is harmed, families should consult with an attorney experienced in assisted living facility abuse, neglect, and wrongful death cases.

This headline is a heartbreaking reminder that behind every report of long-term care abuse, neglect, or death is a resident who has endured pain, injury, or even the ultimate loss of life, and a family left to grieve and cope with the aftermath.

FIDJ Holds Assisted Living Facilities Accountable

At FIDJ, we hold Florida assisted living facilities accountable when they fail to uphold their end of the bargain and protect vulnerable residents from abuse and neglect. If you or your loved one was injured due to resident-on-resident abuse or inadequate ALF supervision, contact the experienced attorneys at FIDJ for a free, confidential, no-pressure case review.

*The facts described above are based on law enforcement and media reports. At the time of publication, no findings have been made against the assisted living facility as to liability or negligence.