An elderly woman is accusing a Richardson senior living community of negligence after a man forced his way into her home, sexually assaulted, beat and robbed her, according to a lawsuit filed last week.
National Church Residences, which operates Brandywine Apartments, failed to maintain a safe living environment and did not provide adequate security to its residents, who are 62 or older, at the time the woman was assaulted in 2021, she alleges in court documents. The woman, who is not named, is also suing her assailant, David Gonzales.
A lawyer for National Church Residences said company officials had not yet received the lawsuit and declined to comment. It was unclear whether Gonzales has an attorney.
The woman’s lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Gonzales, 22, is serving a 40-year prison sentence for aggravated robbery and aggravated sexual assault, court records say. He also pleaded guilty to two burglary charges for separate incidents, according to court records.
On May 22, 2021, Gonzales knocked on the front door of the woman’s home on Rockingham Lane and forced his way inside, according to the 12-page lawsuit. He then attacked the woman, who was 90 years old at the time, and beat her unconscious. He sexually assaulted her, kicked her in the head and stole her jewelry, cash and electronics, the lawsuit says.
Family members later found the woman lying on her living room floor with life-threatening injuries.
Gonzales had previously committed other nighttime break-ins in the area, the lawsuit notes.
The “horrific events occurred as a result of negligence” by the senior living community, the lawsuit contends. The property was easily accessible, lacked security and gave “the attacker the perfect location to take prey upon his victim,” according to the court document.
The apartment company did not properly investigate criminal activity nearby; failed to provide security guards, locks, alarm systems or security cameras; and did not implement and enforce safety procedures, the lawsuit alleges.
National Church Residences’ conduct “shows a reckless indifference to consequences without the exertion of any substantial effort to avoid them,” according to the lawsuit.
The woman is seeking more than $1 million for physical harm and mental anguish.
