Family Seeks Justice After 83-Year Old Found Dead in Nursing Home Freezer

Weeks after 83-year-old Navy veteran William Eugene Ray was found dead inside a walk-in freezer at The Waverly Assisted Living & Memory Care facility, his family is demanding justice and accountability for what they call a preventable tragedy.

According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, Ray, who lived with dementia was last seen leaving his room around 12:30 a.m. on September 26. Hours later, staff discovered his body inside the facility’s commercial freezer.

He was pronounced dead shortly after emergency responders arrived. Preliminary findings suggest hypothermia as the cause of death, and investigators have found no evidence of foul play.

Ray’s daughter, Kristen Spencer, had previously installed a Ring camera in his room over concerns about his safety and quality of care. She told reporters that the footage showed her father wandering out alone that night, raising questions about the facility’s monitoring and safety protocols.

The family has since filed a notice of intent to sue the facility for wrongful death, alleging negligence, inadequate supervision, and failure to restrict access to hazardous areas. Their attorney claims the freezer lacked fail-safe mechanisms to prevent accidental entrapment, a violation of standard assisted-living safety measures.

In a public statement, The Waverly Assisted Living & Memory Care expressed condolences to the family and pledged full cooperation with the investigation, maintaining that the facility “meets all state-mandated safety standards”.

As investigations continue, the Ray family says their goal is to ensure no other family experiences such a devastating loss.

What changes do you believe could prevent tragedies like this in elder care?