SBI investigating death at Tarboro assisted living center

State and local authorities are investigating the death of a resident at a Tarboro assisted living center.

Tarboro first responders were called to Open Fields Assisted Living, at 3210 Western Blvd., at about 10 p.m. on April 5 about an unresponsive resident and found 75-year-old Rebecca Eudy dead.

An autopsy determined that Eudy didn't die of natural causes, but no cause of death has been released.

Tarboro police and the State Bureau of Investigation are reviewing evidence collected at the scene and are interviewing Open Fields staff and residents, authorities said.

"As a respected member of the health care community, we take all issues seriously and are conducting an internal investigation as well as fully cooperating with the authorities," Lisa Yates, regional vice president of operations for Open Fields' owner, Principal Long-Term Care, said in an email to WRAL News. "As this is an investigation, we cannot discuss specific details at this time. Please know we keep the safety and well-being of our residents as the highest priority."

Open Fields is rated by state regulators as a three-star facility. It was a four-star facility as recently as August 2016. Recent inspections note some unspecified violations, but Open Fields has not received any penalties in the last three years.