Elderly Florida Woman Found Living in Filth and Malnourished; Caregiver Arrested
Share and Follow

Florida authorities found “an elderly woman living in extremely hazardous and unsanitary conditions” on Friday and arrested her 56-year-old caregiver.

The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office said the woman weighed about 90 pounds and “appeared severely neglected, with visible feces on her person and signs that she had not bathed in an extended period.” Deputies noted insects crawling in her hair and on her body.

Her caregiver, identified as Melanie Hess, “appeared clean, well-fed, and unaffected by the conditions in which the elderly woman was found,” the sheriff’s office said.

According to an arrest affidavit, Hess told deputies she lived at the home with the victim and her daughter, Treasure Coast News reported.

“It may be noted that pulling into the driveway, the house appeared to be abandoned, and the grass yard was severely overgrown with weeds,” the affidavit said. “Walking towards the home, I began to smell the strong odor of feces and urine associated with the smell of cats and other animals.”

“I looked through a window and observed a white elderly female (victim) laying on a bed in a room,” the report said, according to Law&Crime. “The bed was littered with leaves and appeared to have not been cleaned in a manner of time.”

The report said the home had electricity and running water but no air conditioning or working refrigerator, although the sheriff’s office social media statement said there was no running water. The sheriff’s office also said the home’s roof and interior walls were collapsing. Deputies found an insect infestation and said the victim was unable to tell them when she last ate.

The victim was taken to a hospital for evaluation and treatment. Hess was charged with neglect of elderly disabled adult without great harm and released on her own recognizance on Saturday, Treasure Coast News said.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Police Report: Man Used Racial Slurs Before Fatally Shooting Victim

Inset: Kaeden Douglas (Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department). Background: Mucky Duck bar in…

Mother Arrested for Dumping Infant in Trash Bin, Charged with Corpse Mistreatment: Police

Inset: Catherine Innes (Harris County Jail). Background: Cops in Houston, Texas, investigate…

Woman Accused of Framing Horse for Mother’s Murder, Now Facing Prison Time

Inset: Ariela Thran (Cortland County District Attorney’s Office). Background: Patricia Halverson’s property…

Bradenton Man Arrested for Accused Windshield Stomping Following Collision

Staff report GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Trevor Dylan McKee, 33, of Bradenton, was…

Authorities Report: Man Assaults Mother and Attacks Responding Police with Acid

Background: A law enforcement vehicle drives outside of an apartment complex off…

Prosecutors Seek to Extend Bryan Kohberger No Contact Orders for 99 Years

Prosecutors have asked an Idaho judge to extend no contact orders for…

Father Accused of Fatally Strangling 5-Month-Old Over Crying

Inset: Jared White (Curry County Detention Center). Background: The 1000 block Maple…

Officer Misused Departmental Resources to Intimidate Ex-Wife: Authorities Report

Background: The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Headquarters in Indianapolis, Ind. (Google Maps).…