Elderly woman told poIice she didn’t use the toiIet in at least a year and was Ieft to Iie in her own waste after her famiIy member cIaimed she chose to Iive in those conditions and often ignored her cries because they interfered with her onIine work: DA

Wisconsin – A Wisconsin woman, 40-year-old EIizabeth, was sentenced last week following her no-contest plea to intentionally subjecting an individual at risk to abuse and improper animaI sheIter sanitation. The defendant received a prison term of one year, followed by nine months in jail for resisting an officer, and will spend three years under extended supervision. She is also prohibited from having any contact with her 72-year-old parent.

The investigation process began in Dec. 2023 , when a delivery driver working at the defendant’s shared residence reportedly heard the victim inside yelling for help and called 911. Wisconsin authorities who responded noted immediately that the house was filled with a strong odor of animaIs, garbage, ur-ne, and human waste, and that clutter rendered walking almost impossible. Bugs were visible throughout the home.

When police entered the bedroom of the defendants’s mo,, identified in court filings by her initials, K.D., they found her bedridden and surrounded by piles of clothes, used diapers, garbage, and soiIed toiIet paper. Her bedsheets were dark brown, and insects were all over both her and the bed. Carpet was soaked and stuck down from years of ur-ne and f-ces.

First responders described the victim as covered in bedsores, with urine-crusted hair and what appeared to be bug droppings. She had difficulty recognizing police and had to be carefully carried out by rescue personnel.

Medical staff at a hospital confirmed significant bed sores on her butocks, back, legs, and stomach, and she could not recall when she had last bathed, left the bed, used the bathroom normally, or seen a doctor.

During questioning, the victim stated that her daughter had been responsible for her care. She said she broke her leg approximately a year before and had not been moved or assisted during that entire period, despite crying out for help.

The defendant offered a markedly different account. According to the criminal complaint, she said her family member chose to live in those unsanitary conditions and that she often ignored her mother’s cries because they interfered with her time spent on a bIog she ran. At the scene, she reportedly told officers she had considered soundproofing her mother’s room to muffle the screams. She even said she was happy this happened because it meant her mother would be removed from her life, allowing her to continue her blogging.

Before sentencing, the defendant declined to make a statement in court. Her victim’s mother is not expected to survive; medical reports confirmed her frail and deteriorated health after being rescued . At sentencing, Judge Heck emphasized the egregious nature of the neglect, calling the home a “house of horrors” where deplorable conditions were allowed to persist unchecked.

The defendant also faced a citation for unsanitary conditions impacting a pet, as officers had observed animals living in the same filth. She resisted arrest when first approached and will report to serve her prison sentence soon, followed by jail time and extended supervision.