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Nassau County Police were called to a Roosevelt home at around 2:40 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, to perform a welfare check.
Inside, officers found 85-year-old Carmel McDougall unresponsive. She was taken to a hospital and died days later, on Wednesday, Sept. 18.
An investigation found that McDougall’s 65-year-old son, Michael McDougall, was responsible for the injuries that caused her death, police said.
Detectives also determined that McDougall’s 55-year-old daughter, Nichole Mullings, had abused the woman in August, according to police.
McDougall was arrested on suspicion of second-degree manslaughter, while Mullings is charged with endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person.
At arraignment Thursday, Oct. 3, a Nassau County judge ordered McDougall jailed on a $1.25 million bond. Mullings was released on her own recognizance.
Meanwhile, loved ones are paying tribute to Carmel McDougall, a Jamaican immigrant who moved to Brooklyn as a teenager and later worked as a dietitian at Caledonian Hospital, according to her obituary.
She married her husband Eric in 1963, and the couple moved to Roosevelt eight years later.
“Carmel’s love language was cooking, a passion she shared with everyone she met,” reads her memorial. “Whether at home, at work as a dietitian in nursing homes across Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island, or catering events, her meals were prepared with love and care, never hesitating to nourish others.”
A deeply spiritual person, McDougall was a committed member of Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, relatives said. She was actively involved in numerous committees and ministries, including the Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus, Kindergarten Teachers Aide, and the Bereavement Ministry.
“Carmel had a special love for children, and her home always welcomed them with open arms. She believed that every child should come home to a warm hug and a hearty snack,” her obituary said.
“This philosophy led her to become a beloved childcare provider in her community. Though she birthed four children, her love extended far beyond, and many more grew up feeling like her own.”
McDougall is survived by her husband Eric; siblings Nina, Sylvester, and Reynold; children Michael, Nichole, Pierre, and David; 14 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for McDougal are scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, at Queen of the Most Holy Rosary in Roosevelt.
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