According to an article by Colorado Springs Fox 21 News, a Colorado Springs woman is accused of severely neglecting her 98-year-old mother to the point of death.
Sixty-six-year-old Jeanne Hagio is charged with a felony count of Crimes Against At-Risk Adults and a misdemeanor count of Crimes Against At-Risk Adults – Caretaker Neglect.
It was Jan. 13, 2014, when 98-year-old Yuta Hagio was found dead inside her home in the 2400 block of Flintridge Drive. Colorado Springs police said she was found lying on the bathroom floor.
According to an Affidavit of Probable Cause obtained by FOX21 News, Yuta’s caretaker was her daughter Jeanne. Jeanne had been her mother’s caretaker for the past 20 years. The two women lived in the same home.
Police said the living conditions of the home led Colorado Springs Code Enforcement to condemn the house. Inside trash was found piled up about three to four feet.
There were also feces from rats, mice, dogs and cats throughout the home, according to police. The animals inside the home were taken by the Humane Society for the Pikes Peak Region for possible animal abuse.
No edible food other than frozen food was found in the home.
In an interview with police, Jeanne said her mother had not been seen by a primary care physician in the past seven years. She said her mother was seen at St. Francis Medical Center sometime in 2013 but she was not taking any medications.
Yuta weighed 66 pounds and was about four-and-a-half feet tall when she died.
Jeanne also said her mother had not eaten in the two weeks prior to her death. She said her mother seemed to be acting normal and there was nothing that was of concern for her health.
An autopsy and coroner’s report showed that Yuta died “as a result of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Dehydration was another significant condition.”
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, is the hardening of the arteries and is a main cause of heart attacks.
According to the affidavit, it appeared Yuta had been living on the bathroom floor for an unknown amount of time.
Yuta had numerous sores on her back. According to a physician at the Colorado Dermatology Institute, the sores indicated that Yuta had possibly been lying in the same spot on the bathroom floor for at least a week or two before dying.
In the interview with Jeanne, she said her mother had been wearing the same shirt for at least the last month. She also said her mother hadn’t bathed or showered in the last two months or eaten solid foods in more than three weeks.
In the three weeks prior to her death, Jeanne said her mother’s health had declined but she did not seek medical services.
Jeanne, according to the affidavit, “believes the standard of care she provided her mother to be acceptable and saw nothing wrong with the lack of care she provided for her mother.”
Police found more than 200 pages of medical records for Yuta. In those pages, Jeanne had the medical durable power of attorney which allowed her to make medical decisions for her mother.
If you believe your loved one has been a victim of elder abuse and have questions concerning your case, contact an experienced Colorado elder abuse attorney today. Seeking a dedicated elder abuse lawyer could help relieve your stress by working hard on behalf of your case to ensure that your family’s tragedy does not become an undue financial burden as well. Rhett Meyer has the experience to deal with elder abuse to make sure you receive everything you are entitled to. For more information and a FREE CONSULTATION, contact Rhett at (303)444-1618.