Janet Roderiques was reported missing on April 3, 2023 — two days later, she was found dead in Buttonwood Park. 

And on Feb. 21 of this year, her daughter Sonyia filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the rest home caring for her mother at the time, Dartmouth Manor Home in North Dartmouth. The suit argues that the rest home’s negligence led directly to her “premature death.”

Dartmouth Manor Home is a for-profit rest home on State Road owned by Carla Antonelli. According to the lawsuit, Roderiques was placed in their care in 2015 for dementia and psychiatric issues.

“She was known to elope and wander and had a wander guard order,” the complaint reads. 

On the date Roderiques went missing, she was wearing her electronic “wander” bracelet. The bracelet triggered an alarm, according to the complaint, but staff were caring for other patients at the time and did not immediately check the yard. Dartmouth Manor Home called the police once they realized she was missing, but allegedly never called to inform the family. 

The lawsuit accuses Dartmouth Manor Home of the wrongful death of Roderiques, negligence and gross negligence. The suit seeks punitive damages “in an amount sufficient to punish this defendant and deter other similar misconduct.”

Sonyia Roderiques could not immediately be reached for comment.

Antonelli of Dartmouth Manor Home declined to comment.