Docs: Elderly woman found living alone without power in mouse-infested home; grandson charged with n

MUNCIE, Ind. - A Muncie man faces a felony neglect charge after police say they found his elderly grandmother living alone without power in a home covered in feces, trash and mice.




Nathan Stinson, 19, was arrested this week by Muncie police and preliminarily charged with Neglect of a Dependent - a Level 6 felony. The charge stems from a welfare check officers made on an 84-year-old woman who had been "abandoned" in poor living conditions without food.




Muncie officers went to a home around 12 p.m. Thursday to check on the woman after receiving a tip from Adult Protective Services. Upon arrival, the woman reportedly did not answer the door but instead yelled for police to come inside.




They entered to find the woman lying down with bed sores on her body, bruising on her neck and feces "caked in between her toes." The house reportedly smelled so badly of mouse urine that officers had to wear masks to enter fully.




Officers searched the home and found "numerous mice nests" on the ground and in light fixtures. Garbage reportedly covered the floors, with one pile being approximately a foot and a half deep. Police said unknown animal feces "was caked and dried on a large part of the floor."




Other than one gallon of milk that had expired on Monday, the refrigerator was only full of spoiled food items. While there was no power in the home, there was running water.




The woman "appeared confused" and told officers that she had been battered by her "boyfriend," pointing to bruising on her forearm. Eventually, she said she knew her "grandson Nathan" had left her there alone to care for herself.




Police soon identified "grandson Nathan" as Stinson and officers found him at his home. Stinson reportedly told officers that he had "only been gone for a few days" since the power went off at his grandmother's.




Stinson also said he never signed any legal paperwork that made him the guardian, but added that he does give her daily medication and baths. He told police he had tried to "take care of the mouse problem" but had not had success.




Police reportedly explained to Stinson that his grandmother depended on him and that he had abandoned her in the home without power. They said he was legally responsible because he left her with no power and with no one to help her.




Stinson was then arrested and booked into the Delaware County Jail on one count of felony neglect. His bond has been set at $5,000.





via: https://fox59.com/news/indycrime/docs-elderly-woman-found-living-alone-without-power-in-mouse-infested-home-grandson-charged-with-neglect/