Detectives booked Nona Burton, 65, on five counts as they review conditions inside a house on Sullen Place described as an unlicensed group home.
NEW ORLEANS — A police wellness check on Monday led to the arrest of a New Orleans woman and the removal of five older adults from a West Bank house that officers say was operating as an unlicensed group home. The case unfolded about 10:50 a.m. in the 3900 block of Sullen Place in Algiers, according to police.
The investigation has drawn attention because it highlights gaps that can arise when residential care operates outside state licensing. Police said the home’s conditions were poor and that paramedics took three people to a hospital for evaluation. One person was moved to a different medical facility and a fifth had already been transferred to a hospital before officers arrived. Detectives arrested Nona Burton, 65, and booked her on five counts of cruelty to persons with infirmities. Authorities said the probe is ongoing as they build a timeline of how the home functioned and who controlled the residents’ care.
Police sent Fourth District officers to the address after a request for a wellness check. On arrival, officers found multiple older adults inside and documented living conditions they described as substandard for a care setting. They detained Burton and began coordinating with emergency medical services to move residents for treatment and assessment. A neighbor who watched the response said ambulances arrived within minutes. “It looked like at least three,” the neighbor said, adding that crews brought residents out on stretchers. Officers stayed on scene into the afternoon, neighbors said.
Authorities have not released the residents’ names or ages. Investigators have also not detailed how long the house may have operated or how many caregivers, if any, worked there. A resident on the block who did not want to be identified said he believed the operator initially tried to help people but became overwhelmed by the needs inside the home. Another man who said he previously stayed there, identifying himself to local media as Raymond Owen, said the police visit could mean the remaining residents “get much more attention.” Police did not report any deaths linked to the incident. Officials said the immediate priority was medical evaluation and safe placement.
Louisiana’s Department of Health licenses adult residential care providers and conducts inspections for facilities that meet state definitions and apply for permits. Unlicensed homes that house older adults can fall outside those checks, leaving city police and prosecutors to pursue criminal cases when abuse or neglect is alleged. Algiers has seen scattered complaints about small, informal care settings in recent years, and the city’s mix of aging housing and limited formal beds can drive people into ad hoc arrangements. Monday’s arrest adds to broader questions about oversight and local capacity as families seek options ahead of the holidays.
Detectives said they are compiling reports and could turn findings over to prosecutors once interviews and records reviews are complete. Burton’s initial court appearance would set bail and trigger deadlines for filings. As of Wednesday, police had not announced additional arrests or identified the property owner, and did not specify whether city or state regulators had previously received complaints about the address. Officials said anyone with information can contact Fourth District detectives, and that the investigation remains active with no timeline given for the next public update.
On Sullen Place, residents described a quiet block near Maumus Avenue where most people know one another in passing. “Those men stayed to themselves,” one neighbor said, calling the discovery disturbing. Another neighbor said they had seen food dropped off at the house and occasional check-ins from visitors. The front yard was empty again by evening, neighbors said, after ambulances and police units left and officers wrapped up their on-scene work.
Police said the case remains open, with the next notable step expected when court records post an initial appearance date and any further details on the residents’ conditions or placement.
Author note: Last updated November 26, 2025.