Owners face murder charges in personal care home deaths

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Murder charges have been filed against the owners of a personal care home where two residents died in October.

On Oct. 18, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office was called to First Love Personal Care Home at 2403 Wrightsboro Road to investigate a report of two dead people. Four more residents were taken to a hospital.

While investigating the incident, deputies and investigators noted the home was extremely hot inside.

Earlier coverage of the case

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The bodies of the two victims, Georgia Blount, 84, and Sylvia Reid, 75, were turned over to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for autopsies.

On Tuesday, the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office ruled that both Blount and Reid’s deaths were homicides by way of hyperthermia due to prolonged exposure to high indoor temperatures and faulty equipment at the residence.

According to the sheriff’s agency, investigators then made contact with the owners of the home, Celesta Lisenbee, 66, and Sammie Lisenbee, 72, who were arrested and charged with two counts of murder each.

They are being held in Richmond County jail, according to jail records, with each facing three counts of neglect to a disabled adult, elder person, or resident and two counts of murder.

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