WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A Palm Beach County nurse who was severely beaten while on the job is finally coming home after months of hospitalization and recovery.
Leelamma Lal, 67, sustained critical injuries after investigators said she was attacked by a 33-year-old patient at HCA Florida Palms West Hospital in Loxahatchee on Feb. 18.
Lawyers face off in court involving attack on nurse
Calling it an “exhausting journey,” a spokesperson for the attorney representing her family told WPTV that Lal will finally return home on Saturday.
“She still has a long road ahead of her, but this is a massive step forward,” the spokesperson said. “While she still faces a long road ahead, this marks a deeply emotional milestone.”
Lal is not expected to hold any interviews, but will provide a brief statement and express her heartfelt thanks for the support she has received since the attack.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the attack occurred inside a third-floor patient room at HCA Florida Palms West Hospital.
The suspect, Stephen Scantlebury, was at the hospital under a psychiatric hold and was being cared for by Lal at the time of the attack.
Scantlebury faces attempted first-degree murder.
A judge in April denied a mental competency evaluation for Scantlebury, who remains in custody at the Palm Beach County jail.
READ MORE OF WPTV’S COVERAGE OF THE CASE:
Loxahatchee Acreage
Gag order, motion to dismiss denied in case involving attack on nurse Kate Hussey
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Nurse injured in attack ‘beginning to walk on her own’ Scott Sutton
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Judge denies mental evaluation for nurse attack suspect Scott Sutton
West Palm Beach
Nurse brutally attacked suffers ‘uncertain road’ after medical complications Samantha Roesler
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Hospital staff called 911 on another patient 2 weeks after nurse attack Jamie Ostroff
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This hospital is adding workspace for law enforcement Jamie Ostroff
WPTV Investigates
Attorney of injured nurse petitions hospital for evidence Kate Hussey
Loxahatchee Acreage
Nurse attack suspect will remain jailed Kayla McDermott
Loxahatchee Acreage
Frantic 911 calls describe moments nurse was brutally attacked Zitlali Solache
Loxahatchee Acreage
Nurse advocates push for harsher penalties for assaulting health care workers Michael Hoffman
WPTV Investigates
New details emerge on how Palms West nurse attack suspect ended up at hospital Jamie Ostroff
WPTV Investigates
Who was watching patient before nurse attacked? Jamie Ostroff
Loxahatchee Acreage
Nurse attack suspect had displayed ‘unusual behavior,’ attorneys say Scott Sutton
Loxahatchee Acreage
‘Essentially every bone’ broken in nurse’s face, affidavit says Scott Sutton
Loxahatchee Acreage
Local nurse attacked by patient, suffers critical injuries Scott Sutton
