Elderly woman killed by swarm of fire ants outside home suffered 1,000 bites and stings: lawsuit

Joe Sommerlad Mon, August 24, 2026 at 2:14 PM UTC

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A South Carolinanursing home is being sued by the family of an elderly Alzheimer’s patient who died after being swarmed by fire ants, sustaining over 1,000 bites and stings, according to a lawsuit.

Shelba Catterton, 83, was nonverbal and suffering from advanced dementia, wandered outside unsupervised via an unlocked door after 10 p.m. on July 23 where she was set upon by the insects, the legal complaint seen by Law and Crime alleges.

She was found hours later lying on an ants’ nest in a secure courtyard, covered in the insects and unable to cry out or brush them away because of her condition.

When a staff member at Harmony at West Ashley in Charleston discovered they called 911, the lawsuit says.

“A bunch of ants were on her. She has bumps all over her back, all over her face, it’s pretty bad. They really did eat up on her,” the worker is said to have told the dispatcher.

The 83-year-old was found lying on an ants’ nest (Gett/iStock)

Charleston Police is also investigating and believes Catterton had exited the home through a door left propped open by an employee.

“Fire ants swarmed Shelba’s body,” the legal complaint states, per Law and Crime. “By the time Harmony’s staff finally discovered her, she had been bitten and stung, upon information and belief, upward of 1,000 times.

“The bites covered her face, her eyes, her scalp, her back, her chest, her arms, her hands, her legs, and her feet.”

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Doctors who treated Catterton subsequently concluded she was hypothermic and had pneumonia, treating her with external rewarming before transferring her to intensive care, only for the senior to pass away on August 7.

The deceased’s family are now suing the home for negligence, wrongful death and violation of state law governing Alzheimer’s care facilities, claiming staff waited 36 hours before reporting what had happened.

Nate Hughey, the family’s attorney, told NBC’s local affiliate WCBD: “To my knowledge, I’ve handled the most elder abuse cases in the last 25 years in the state. This is the worst thing I’ve ever seen.”

Catterton’s family said they are “horrified” by what happened to their loved one (Family handout)

Catterton’s daughter Jan Buice told the network: “I was horrified. I just can’t tell you how horrified I was. Nobody should ever go through something like that.”

While deaths from fire ants are rare, the very young or old can suffer severe reactions including anaphylactic shock from multiple bites.

A Harmony spokesperson told WCBD in a statement: “First, our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Mrs Catterton’s family and loved ones during this difficult time.

“As a family-owned and operated senior living company, we are committed to providing each resident with the same care, compassion, and respect we would extend to our own family.

“Because this matter is currently in litigation, we are not in a position to comment on the details of the case.”

The Independent has reached out to Harmony for further comment.

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