Nursing home issues statement on Audrey Penn's death

Sept. 19--SALISBURY TOWNSHIP -- As the investigation continues into how a 77-year-old woman walked out of a Salisbury Township nursing home only to be found dead nearly two miles away, the home's executive director issued a statement on the tragedy.

"The entire Woodland Terrace community is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Audrey Penn and the circumstances under which Audrey was found," Andrea McGowan, executive director of Woodland Terrace at the Oaks. "First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with Audrey's family."

The Lehigh County coroner's office is expected to complete an autopsy Tuesday, which could determine how Penn died.

Penn, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease, went missing Aug. 23 from the the Woodland Terrace at Oaks Senior Living Community in Salisbury Township. Police, family and church members searched for her extensively in the days after her disappearance.

Penn's body was found Sunday afternoon in a drainage ditch near Hamilton Boulevard and Kressler Road in Lower Macungie, a nearly two-mile walk from the nursing home.

She was pronounced dead at 3:44 p.m. Sunday by a deputy Lehigh County coroner and was positively identified Monday night.

State police at Fogelsville and Salisbury Township police are investigating Penn's case with the coroner's office.

"Woodland Terrace has been working with, and will continue to provide, law enforcement with all requested information," McGowan said in a statment. "All questions concerning the investigation should be directed to the Pennsylvania State Police. We can not provide further comment at this time."

On Tuesday, McGowan provided a statement, saying that the home is providing mental health and spiritual counselors to all residents, families, and the local community.

"Our community was committed to bringing Audrey home safely and joined individuals throughout the region, from as far away as Philadelphia and southern New Jersey, in raising awareness of the search."

Penn had been at Woodland Terrace since February. Days after Penn's disappearance, Woodland Terrace issued a statement that they were reviewing safety measures and testing its security systems.

"We continue to test our systems and review resident safety and security measures to ensure that all technology and processes continue to work effectively," McGowan said in Tuesday's statement. "The health, safety, and well-being of every resident always is our number one priority."

The state Department of Human Services, which regulates personal care homes, visited the facility to investigate the circumstances of Penn's disappearance, according to a department spokeswoman.

The department's violation and inspection reports show no recent incidents of residents leaving the secured part of the facility, but police said they had been called there before after reports of residents wandering off the property.

mgamiz@mcall.com

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