This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Social Worker Arrested After Admitting to Helping Elderly Man Commit Suicide

A social worker in Orange County was arrested today after she admitted to helping at 86-year-old man in Laguna Woods commit suicide this fall.Jack Koency's death this September didn't seem suspicious at first since he was elderly. But investigators with the Orange County sheriff's department found out that he had already arranged for his ashes to be scattered and that there was an address for a euthanasia association among his things. Then a toxicology report found that he died after ingesting a drug cocktail of Oxycodone, Fluoxytine and Alprazolam, according to City News Service.
A video taken shortly before Koency's death showed a social worker Elizabeth Barrett, 65, crushing up pills and putting them into a drink for him while he was in his apartment. Barrett, who said she knew Koency for four years, denied helping Koency until she was confronted with the video, CNS reported.
She was arrested today at her home in Laguna Woods this morning and was booked on suspicion of assisting a suicide.
-
Cruise off the highway and hit locally-known spots for some tasty bites.
-
Fentanyl and other drugs fuel record deaths among people experiencing homelessness in L.A. County. From 2019 to 2021, deaths jumped 70% to more than 2,200 in a single year.
-
This fungi isn’t a “fun guy.” Here’s what to do if you spot or suspect mold in your home.
-
Donald Trump was a fading TV presence when the WGA strike put a dent in network schedules.
-
Edward Bronstein died in March 2020 while officers were forcibly taking a blood sample after his detention.
-
A hike can be a beautiful backdrop as you build your connection with someone.