'Lack of Communication' Led to Unpermitted Group Home Where Murder Occurred, Bartow Official Says

'Lack of communication' led to unpermitted group home where murder occurred, Bartow official says

BARTOW, Fla. (WFLA) — “Some chicken and rice,” said Eddrena Thornton, taking out a tray of food she has prepared for the five people who live with her in her home. "I feel like I'm doing a mission that God wants me to do. It's my calling,” said Thornton. Since 2020, Thornton has run a state-licensed adult family care facility in her home with a focus on people with mental health issues. “They don’t have nowhere for them to go because they can’t …

Unlicensed group home in Bartow shut down after murder of elderly resident

Sheriff Grady Judd says 81-year-old Patrick Benway was stabbed to death in his sleep by a teen who had just moved into their group home hours earlier.

“I got caught up in a bad situation,” says Bartow group home owner after elderly man’s murder

The City of Bartow is doubling down on questions concerning the code compliance of the group home where an 81-year-old man was murdered.It happened 10 days ago in the Wind Meadows subdivision of Bartow.ABC Action News Reporter Annette Gutierrez has been on this story since it broke on May 18.WATCH: I got caught up in a bad situation, says Bartow group home owner after elderly mans murder I got caught up in a bad situation, says Bartow group home…

Bartow 'group home' where man was murdered was not licensed by state, being shut down

The 'group home' where an 81-year-old man was murdered a little more than a week ago is in the process of being shut down. The city discovered the renter, Eddrena Thornton, was operating the home on Blue Bird Avenue illegally and without a license by the state.