Florida Family Demands Answers After Navy Veteran Found Dead in Assisted Living Freezer
Kristen Spencer is grieving the unimaginable loss of her 83-year-old father, William Eugene “Gene” Ray, who was found dead inside a walk-in freezer at The Waverly Assisted Living and Memory Care facility in Trinity, Florida.
Gene, a retired U.S. Navy veteran who dedicated 36 years to serving his country, had been living at the facility since May following a dementia diagnosis. His family entrusted the staff with his care, believing it would provide him with the safety and support he needed.
That trust was shattered in the early hours of September 26. Kristen, checking the Ring camera she had installed in her father’s room, noticed that Gene had left shortly after 12:30 a.m. and hadn’t returned. Alarmed, she contacted the facility immediately — but it wasn’t until several hours later that staff called to say her father had been found.
The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office arrived around 8 a.m. to a devastating scene. Gene was discovered inside a walk-in freezer, unresponsive. He was rushed for medical care but sadly pronounced dead soon after. Authorities currently believe the death was accidental, with no signs of foul play, though an investigation is still underway to determine how Gene was able to access the restricted area.
Kristen Spencer has voiced deep concern about the facility’s safety measures and response time. She fears that without her intervention, staff may not have realized her father was missing for many more hours. “I just keep wondering how long he was in there, and whether anyone would have found him if I hadn’t checked the camera,” she said. She also mentioned that while Gene’s stay had been mostly uneventful, there had been small red flags in the weeks leading up to the tragedy.
In a public statement, The Waverly Assisted Living expressed “deep sadness and sympathy” to the Ray family, emphasizing that resident safety and dignity are their top priorities. The facility also addressed misinformation circulating online, defending their staff’s professionalism and rapid response once the situation was discovered.
Friends and family remember Gene Ray as a gentle, hardworking man who served his community and country with quiet strength. “He never raised his voice, not once,” Kristen said. “He deserved peace and protection — not this.”
As the investigation continues, Gene’s family is demanding transparency and accountability. They hope that by sharing his story, they can help prevent similar tragedies in other care facilities and honor the memory of a man who gave so much to others.