Multiple state and local agencies are investigating an unattended death that occurred at Golden Pond Assisted Living on Sept. 30 following questions about the temperature of the individual’s living space at the time and the overall function of the facility’s heating system.

An incident report filed by Hopkinton Police officer Noah Buentello details the response of Hopkinton public safety officials to Golden Pond on Sept. 30 for a report of an unresponsive female party. An 86-year-old woman was found deceased in an apartment Buentello described as “uncomfortably hot.”

Hopkinton Fire personnel, who also were on the scene, had the same observation. “A member of the fire department observed that the thermostat in the room was reading 99 degrees Fahrenheit,” Buentello wrote in his report.

In interviewing the facilities manager, Buentello learned that the building had been switched from air conditioning to heat the previous day. The individual also stated that “none of the other rooms in the building were experiencing heat issues.”

Reporting from WBZ News indicates that employees did not expect the 86-year-old to die. A supplemental report from Detective Sgt. Gregg DeBoer, who was assigned the case, noted the woman had visited Walmart the previous day and showed no indications of being ill. She also lived in the independent care section of the assisted living facility. 

According to DeBoer’s report, staff assisted with bathing needs, but she was in charge of her medicine and taking herself to meals and other functions. The report also includes an interview with the woman’s son, who stated his mother may have gotten confused and turned the heat too high in her apartment.

Authorities now are investigating the manner of the woman’s death. The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office confirmed for the Independent that it had an “open and ongoing” investigation into the incident. Interim Hopkinton Police Chief Scott van Raalten declined to comment further on the matter and referred further questions to the state’s Executive Office of Aging and Independence (AGE).

Health Director Shaun McAuliffe confirmed his department was keeping an eye on the situation and that AGE has been in contact with Golden Pond about the issue.

McAuliffe said a cause of death has not yet been listed for the 86-year-old. He noted that authorities had submitted requests for an autopsy, but added the medical examiner said it was unlikely one would be performed.

Heating issues persisted

According to McAuliffe, public safety officials received calls the day after the 86-year-old was found dead reporting Golden Pond was “excessively warm.” Representatives from the Health Department and the Land Use Department responded to inspect the building.

McAuliffe recounted finding multiple rooms well above the 78-degree threshold as required by state law. He said that more than once, the inspection team encountered rooms where the air return was pumping out air in excess of 100 degrees.

Public safety officials met with Golden Pond staff after the inspection and put together an action plan that included taking residents to common areas and opening all doors and windows where possible, McAuliffe explained. He added that an HVAC company “couldn’t correct the issue” so the heat was turned off.

“I visited the site today and found ambient temperatures at 9 a.m. were in the acceptable range,” the health director said during an interview on Wednesday.

In a brief statement to the Independent, Golden Pond director of operations Doug Noble affirmed the facility was cooperating with regulatory agencies regarding the death. “Our HVAC system is professionally maintained by a licensed contractor on both a seasonal and as-needed basis and was working properly at the time of this incident,” the statement reads.

“Each apartment in our community has an individual thermostat that residents can operate directly, although we encourage our residents to push their call button for staff assistance with it,” Noble concluded.

History of issues at facility

This death is the latest of a series of incidents that has required Golden Pond to cooperate with state officials. It failed two compliance reviews in 2023 and was ordered not to accept new residents. The commonwealth later suspended services at the facility in 2023 and 2025 for failing to meet state requirements. Enrollment resumed in early 2025 after AGE approved a corrective action plan. 

Early last year, Golden Pond also had a shake-up in its leadership team. Noble took charge and absorbed executive director Marc Cohen’s position. He cited Cohen’s absences due to health issues and the importance of oversight in the decision.