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An Ankeny caregiver is being sentenced to up to 30 years in prison for her role in the death and abuse of a 73-year-old man.
63-year-old Diana Lynn Becker-Abeyta must serve a mandatory minimum of six years in prison in the death of Ray Crammond.
On April 29, 2023, first responders found Crammond malnourished, neglected and dirty in his home. He later died at a hospital. Investigators later found that Becker-Abeyta had not been giving him his medications, and had taken some of his Social Security money.
She pleaded guilty to dependent adult abuse-financial exploitation and entered an Alford Plea to involuntary manslaughter. That means Becker-Abeyta acknowledged the strong evidence of guilt, but did not admit to the offense. She also pleaded guilty to being a habitual offender, as she had previously been convicted of felony drug and fraud charges in Colorado and Washington State.
Becker-Abeyta faced up to 15 years for each count, and District Judge Paul Scott ordered her to serve the terms consecutively. She also must also pay 150-thousand dollars in restitution to Crammond's family.