Caseworker stabbed to death
An inexperienced health care caseworker who visited a client at his home knew there was something that made her “very uncomfortable” about the 53-year-old man, even writing in his file that two people should visit him in the future.
Yet 25-year-old Stephanie Ross went alone to Lucious Smith’s apartment Monday morning, and police said the ex-con with a history of violence inexplicably chased her down the street, stabbing her to death with a butcher knife.
Ross’ death underscored the dangers of in-home visits by social workers and health care professionals. Some states have added safeguards to prevent attacks, such as pairing them up with another worker for home visits or assigning a police escort, but the additional measures are sometimes too costly for states and private companies.
“It may be if the risk is too high you don’t send two people out, you ask the client to come in or meet in a different place or postpone the visit,” said Tracy Whitaker, of the National Association of Social Workers. “Unfortunately, the money gets found after there’s a tragedy.”
Smith was being held without bail at the Pasco County jail on a first-degree murder charge.
Ross became a service co-ordinator for Marylandbased Integra Health Management in September and wanted to help people with chronic illnesses, the company said in a statement.
“Stephanie was a loving person who was dedicated to working with others in need and had recently embarked on a career path that allowed her to do just that,” her family said in a statement released by police Wednesday. “She was looking forward to furthering her studies in psychology and continuing to help and educate those around her.”
Ross had been on the job for about a month when she first visited Smith in Dade City, a small city about 50 kilometres north of Tampa.
Afterward, Ross wrote about being “very uncomfortable” with Smith, according to Dade City police officer Brian Uppercue, who said authorities reviewed the file. It’s not clear why Ross went there by herself Monday or what his illness was.
Smith was well known to police. Authorities had received “50 or 60 calls” about him since 2006, ranging from trespassing to battery to drunken, disorderly behaviour, Uppercue said. Neighbours said he argued with nearly everyone around him and was banned from a nearby convenience store.
“She faced a real danger dealing with this man,” Uppercue said. “He was a disagreeable guy.”
He served seven years in prison for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and was released in 2005. Smith lived in an apartment complex with other people who had disabilities, said Victoria Farkus, 40, who lives across the street.
Farkus and her niece were home Monday when they heard someone screaming, “Help me, help me, help me.” Farkus said she initially thought her Chihuahua had bitten someone, but looked out her window and saw Smith chasing Ross.
Smith stabbed Ross several times, Farkus said. Ross was taken to the hospital by a woman in a car who saw her bleeding on the ground.
“We are grateful for the Good Samaritan who put herself in harm’s way in an effort to save Stephanie,” Ross’ family said in the statement. “We are comforted that Stephanie made a friend when she needed one the most and that she did not leave the Earth alone. This woman is a part of our family now and we pray for her comfort as she has no doubt suffered a tremendous event that will stay with her forever.”