An Iowa healthcare aide faces charges after allegedly abusing a bedridden woman under her care, who tragically passed away this summer following a fire that broke out on her mattress.

As reported by The Hawk Eye, Burlington Police have charged 25-year-old Audrey Engler with intentional dependent adult abuse. This charge follows an investigation into the woman’s death on August 15, which occurred nearly a month after the incident.

The complaint reveals that the woman was hospitalized on July 21 due to the fire and was later transferred to hospice care, where she eventually passed away.

According to police, the woman’s case manager disclosed that she had been residing with Engler, who was responsible for covering her expenses. The case manager described discovering the woman in unsanitary conditions, surrounded by soiled linens and clutter so extensive that it was difficult to find a place to sit or stand. The woman reportedly requested clothing purchases because “all her money was going to Engler,” and claimed Engler frequently withheld her prescribed pain medication.

The case manager further reported finding the woman with an overfilled catheter, sitting in her own waste.

Police also spoke to the woman’s nurse and a bath aide, both of whom reported that she was often urine soaked and sitting in feces. The nurse also said she found  some of her medications on the floor and that Engler had encouraged her to reduce her visits because she was “adequately” taking care of the woman.

Investigators interviewed Engler, who told them that the woman communicated her needs via text messages, but they found that Engler sometimes “wouldn’t respond for hours.” When they asked about the woman’s bed sores, Engler said he moved the bedridden woman “one time a day.”

She then told investigators that “she could have taken care of the dependent adult better and could have checked on her more and could have had more compassion for her,” the complaint said.

Engler was booked into the Des Moines County Jail on a $10,000 bond and is due in court again on December 29.