La Quinta murder, torture suspect allegedly used screwdriver, knife, hammer and other tools
The murder charge against Cristina Noelle Canimo includes a special circumstance allegation of torture during the commission of a murder.
La Quinta murder, torture suspect allegedly used screwdriver, knife, hammer and other tools The murder charge against Cristina Noelle Canimo includes a special circumstance allegation of torture during the commission of a murder. Check out this story on desertsun.com: https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/crime_courts/2019/11/26/charges-against-woman-la-quinta-slaying-could-allege-torture-could-lead-to-death-penalty/4312824002/
Shane Newell and Marie McCain, Palm Springs Desert Sun Published 1:43 p.m. PT Nov. 26, 2019 | Updated 6:38 p.m. PT Nov. 26, 2019
The home located at 43-574 East Parkway Esplanade in La Quinta, California, is photographed on Tuesday, November 26, 2019. It houses Sunbrook Residential Care, where one resident was reported deceased last week. (Photo: Taya Gray/The Desert Sun)
A 32-year-old Palm Desert woman has been charged with using a knife, box cutter, screwdriver and hammer in the death of a man found in a trash bin last week in La Quinta, court records show.
Cristina Noelle Canimo, 32, of Palm Desert was charged with murder in the death of a man in La Quinta on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019. (Photo: Riverside County Sheriff's Department)
Cristina Noelle Canimo was charged Tuesday with murder and torture in the death of a man whose body was found Thursday in the 43-500 block of East Parkway Esplanade, records show.
The victim's identity has not been released. Court records identify him only as "Ronald C." It was unclear how Ronald C. is connected to Canimo.
The body was found in the same block of a gated La Quinta community as a residential care facility where Department of Social Services investigators visited last week to follow up on the death of one of its residents, according to a state report.
Sunbrook Residential Care's licensee informed the investigators last week that law enforcement possessed its files about the resident.
When reached for comment, facility administrator Ramona Sykes declined to comment before hanging up on a reporter.
Canimo faces a special circumstance allegation of torture, which makes her eligible for the death penalty if the district attorney's office opts to pursue it.
Cristina Canimo Complaint (PDF)
Cristina Canimo Complaint (Text)
Camino did not enter a plea when she appeared before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Harold Hopp on Tuesday. He ordered her held without bail and rescheduled her arraignment for Dec. 9 at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.
Canimo was arrested on the same street where the body of Ronald C. was found, jail records show. She was being held in the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning with bail set at $1 million.
It is unclear whether Canimo has any ties to Sunbrook Residential Care, 43-574 East Parkway Esplanade in La Quinta.
A report from the Department of Social Services shows an investigator visited a home Friday on the same block the day after "Ronald C." was killed to follow up on a resident's death.
Adam Weintraub, a Department of Social Services spokesman, said the facility remains open.
Evaluation 11 22 19 (PDF)
Evaluation 11 22 19 (Text)
"At this point we have not taken action against the facility," he said.
The facility has been at the center of several evaluation and complaint investigation reports since 2015.
In January, the department investigated an allegation that staff neglect led to one resident sustaining a fracture.
Investigators determined the resident fell after a staff member attempted to move the resident from a sofa to a wheelchair, according to the report. The staff member allowed the resident to slide down to the floor.
Weintraub said the resident who was injured is not the same person who died.
Citations against Sunbrook Residential Care
Here are details of citations against the facility taken from state records:
According to the state Department of Social Services, Sunbrook Residential Care, is licensed for six nonambulatory residents and has a waiver for three residents in hospice care.
Since August 2014, when the East Parkway Esplanade care facility was licensed, it has received six type A and two type B citations.
A type A citation indicate a resident's "immediate health, safety or personal rights (are) impacted."
A type B citation involves issues that potentially impact a resident's "health, safety, and personal rights," according to the state Department of Social Services.
The violations were listed as:
On April 19, 2016, during an unannounced visit, the facility was cited for failing to have sufficient staffing on site. This was an "A" citation.
A week later, the facility received a B citation for failing to maintain records.
On March 29, 2017, during an unannounced random annual visit, the facility was cited for failing to pay fees for licensing or applications on time.
During a Sept. 17, 2019, unannounced visit by a state inspector, the facility was cited because a staffer at the agency worked for "two days despite being disassociated and removed from the facility roster."
In addition, inspectors found a resident was not receiving care suitable for injuries he'd suffered while residing at the home. On Jan. 13, 2019, the patient, according to state records, fell while being moved by a staffer from a sofa to a wheelchair. The fall left the resident with "multiple skin tears on both arms."
According to the report, "there are no staff members at the facility who are medical professionals." As a result, the facility contacted a "home health agency" to "assess" the resident's injuries. A physician determined the resident should be hospitalized for a fracture, which resulted in the surgical removal of the person's tailbone.
This violation resulted in the facility being fined $500 on Sept. 17.
Also, in this same incident, officials substantiated allegations that staff had neglected to properly care for the injured patient. The home also received a Type A citation related to criminal record reviews of staff. The home's operators said the staff member in question would no longer be employed.
Inspectors issued other Type A citations related to patient care and proper observation.
Shane Newell covers breaking news and the western Coachella Valley cities of Palm Springs, Cathedral City and Desert Hot Springs. He can be reached at Shane.Newell@DesertSun.com, (760) 778-4649 or on Twitter at @journoshane.
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