Docs: Man accused of raping 85-year-old woman with dementia at Indy assisted living facility

INDIANAPOLIS — A man has been arrested after allegedly raping an 85-year-old woman with dementia at an assisted living facility on the north side of Indianapolis.

According to court documents obtained by FOX59/CBS4, Ron’Diayel Gardner has been preliminarily charged with a level 3 felony charge of rape in Marion County.

Court documents show the investigation began on Dec. 21 when an officer with IMPD’s Sex Crimes Unit was dispatched to 7001 Hoover Road, the listed address for the senior living home Hooverwood Living, in response to a report of a rape that was in progress.

During the course of the investigation, the detective learned the victim suffered from “severe” dementia and could only speak Russian.

Detectives spoke with a supervisor at the facility who reportedly told them they entered the 85-year-old’s room and allegedly observed Gardner, who was a housekeeping employee, on top of the patient with his pants down.

The employee told detectives that Gardner allegedly claimed that he wasn’t doing anything when questioned by the supervisor.

After escorting Gardner out of the room, the supervisor approached the patient and noticed that her adult diaper had reportedly been pulled down, exposing her lower half.

The victim was then transported to the Center of Hope at Methodist Hospital where she underwent a forensic exam.

Meanwhile, Gardner was detained and brought to the IMPD Sex Crimes Office where he was interviewed.

Court documents show that Gardner changed his story several times during the interview, originally claiming that he was leaning over the patient to locate the source of a urine smell in the room. He allegedly said he did not realize his pants were down when his supervisor entered the room.

He also initially denied ever having intercourse with the patient while admitting that he was on top of the woman with his pants down. Gardner went on to allegedly tell the detective that the woman “motioned him with her hands” while “inviting” him to have sexual intercourse with her, according to court documents.

Investigators proceeded to speak with an individual who knew the victim. This individual reportedly told them that the woman’s communication was strictly in Russian and that when she speaks, it is complete “nonsense.”

Court documents indicate this statement was corroborated by a memory care manager at the assisted living facility who told detectives the victim was limited to communicating in Russian and her words could not be understood due to her dementia.

Gardner was subsequently arrested and brought to the Marion County Jail. According to online court records, Gardner is due to appear in Marion Superior Court 28 for an initial hearing at 9 a.m. on Dec. 27.