Queens Home Health Aide Charged in Woman’s Death

Police responded to a 911 call at about 3:30 p.m. on October 29 describing a woman who needed medical care at a home in South Jamaica, Queens. Officers found Lillie Hill, 81, unconscious and unresponsive. Emergency medical workers transported her to Queens Hospital Center, and she was declared dead there, police said.

Patricia Williams, 46, a home health aide, was taken into custody and faced a manslaughter charge in connection with Hill’s death. Investigators allege Williams performed an inappropriate procedure involving Hill’s chest catheter, causing excessive bleeding, a law enforcement source said.

Williams told investigators that she cut the catheter because Hill had asked her to do so, sources said. She also said she did not intend to harm the woman, according to those sources.

The medical examiner’s office is determining the cause of death, which remains under investigation. As of October 30, Williams had yet to be arraigned in Queens Criminal Court.