May 6, 2014 - Houston police are awaiting autopsy results of a woman who became unresponsive on April 14 and died several days later.


The victim, Ruby Machala, 86, was pronounced dead at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center on April 19.

HPD Homicide Division Sergeant M. Jewell and Senior Police Officer R. Bolton reported:

About 7:20 a.m. on April 15, patrol officers were called to Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center at 921 Gessner regarding an assault to an elderly person.  Ms. Machala had been admitted to the hospital the previous night.  She had been bleeding from the nose and, at some point, became unresponsive.

Ms. Machala's family had placed her in the Spring Branch Healthcare, a long-term care facility, for the past several months.  She had been falling down quite often, according to the family.

The previous day (April 14), Ms. Machala was scheduled for a three-phase bone scan as an outpatient at Advanced Diagnostics at 8305 Knight Road.  She was transported by ambulance, both to and from this facility in her wheelchair.  At some point in time, she sustained a head injury.  All parties who had access to Ms. Machala were interviewed.  None of these individuals interviewed witnessed or said they had knowledge of  a fall, or accident occurring in their presence.  At this time, the investigation has not revealed a crime has been committed. 

The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences is conducting an autopsy to determine Ms. Machala's cause of death.



JFC/VHS    5-6-14
Inc #045901914