An Oak Lawn man is accused of neglecting his live-in second cousin, a senior citizen, for more than a year.
Staffers at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn who treated the 76-year-old woman said she was “one of the worst malnourished patients they had ever seen,” Cook County prosecutors said Wednesday.
Bail was set at $100,000 for 67-year-old Thomas Bartley, who has shared an apartment with his cousin for nine years in the 10700 block of Keating Avenue, prosecutors said.
Cook County Judge Peter Felice said the allegations were “downright disgusting” before setting bail for Bartley.
Police were called at around 5 p.m. Tuesday to check on the well-being of the elderly woman at her home after her doctor’s office reported she had missed a scheduled appointment which, according to the caller, was unusual, Oak Lawn Police Chief Michael Murray said.
When officers went to that location and asked to see the woman, Bartley led them inside, Murray said. Police immediately noticed a foul odor coming from the apartment, and found the woman sitting in the kitchen.
The elderly woman was covered in fecal matter, as was the floor surrounding her and her bed, prosecutors said.
Clothing had adhered to the woman’s skin, some of which was dead and had to be cut away, prosecutors said. At least one maggot was found in the dead tissue, they said. Police said the woman also had bedsores.
The elderly woman was severely malnourished and was suffering from muscle atrophy, prosecutors said.
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Murray said she did not appear to be aware of her surroundings when police found her. Officers called for an ambulance, and she was taken to Advocate for treatment, he said. Her condition was not available Wednesday from authorities.
Bartley was brought in for questioning and later charged with two counts of felony abuse and neglect of an elderly person, Murray said. Bartley is scheduled to return to court on June 8.
Nick Swedberg is a freelance reporter.