The family of a disabled 65-year-old man who died after his south Phoenix group home was left without air conditioning is demanding answers, as Arizona authorities investigate the operator, Legend DDD Services.
Mark Johnson had lived at the home near Dobbins Road and 19th Street since 2020. His sisters, Kimberly Harland and Allison Hoffman, said he had Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease but remained a much-loved and active part of their family.
Hoffman said she visited him on August 2 and quickly realised the property was dangerously hot. A thermostat photograph taken during her visit showed the temperature fluctuating between 88F and 90F.
She said Johnson appeared lethargic and struggled to hold his head up while she tried to feed him. The family later learned that the home’s air conditioning had reportedly been broken for five days.
Former employees told local reporters that the group home had been without air conditioning in early August. Johnson’s relatives said they contacted Adult Protective Services after discovering that officials had been made aware of the problem the previous day.
“Why didn’t somebody from the State call me to alert me that my brother was in severe distress?” Harland said. She said Johnson was removed from the home, placed on oxygen and died about 25 days after the family’s visit.
The family has not claimed that the lack of air conditioning was the sole cause of his death, but believes the conditions contributed to a serious deterioration in his health. They say Johnson was not believed to be close to death before the incident.
State investigation into Legend DDD
Records obtained by local reporters show that the Arizona Department of Economic Security’s Division of Developmental Disabilities had been monitoring Legend DDD facilities since November 2025 over what it described as ongoing concerns about the quality of care provided in its group homes.
The state identified a sustained pattern of deficiencies, including insufficient training for nursing staff dealing with complex medical needs and failures to maintain minimum staffing levels. Legend DDD was placed on a corrective action plan in March 2026.
AHCCCS, Arizona’s Medicaid agency, later terminated the provider agreement for the home where Johnson lived. Notices were also issued in relation to eight other Legend DDD group homes, with the operator required to arrange a smooth transition of care for residents.
Zane Garcia Ramadan, assistant director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities, said a termination indicated a serious concern for health officials. He said families or responsible representatives should be notified promptly when an issue has a significant impact on a resident.
Johnson’s sisters said they were not informed by the state about the air-conditioning failure. Legend DDD owner Kerri Masengale and Dr Feras Aldaoud have not responded to requests for comment.
“Mark was not just because he was disabled put on a shelf,” Harland said. “Mark is the centre of our family.”
