By Tanya Terry
43-year-old Letisha Rochelle Miller and 43-year-old Sylvester Allen Ross have each recently pleaded guilty to second-degree vulnerable adult abuse. These charges were reduced from the original charges of first-degree vulnerable adult abuse.
The mother of one of the defendants was found on a urine-soaked mattress. All food in the home had also been expired for more than six months. In addition, the home she was in lacked heat, plumbing or water for two months of more.
Paramedics were responding to a medical call in the home, which led to an investigation.
According to Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, healthcare workers had to partially soak the elderly woman in saline to remove bed fabric that had become attached to her.
The mattress she was on not only was stained with urine, but also had mold on it.
Ross, who is lodged without bond, is scheduled for sentencing July 5.
Miller, who is free on a personal recognition bond, is scheduled for sentencing July 19.
More than 73,000 older adults in Michigan are victims of elder abuse. They experience abuse, neglect and exploitation, according to Michigan.gov. The symptoms and treatment of elder abuse are complex and demand a concerted effort to tackle this often unrecognized and unreported social problem, the State of Michigan website also says.
