Posted on 03/22/2005 8:47:01 AM PST by OXENinFLA
OAK RIDGE (WATE) -- Three Oak Ridge family members were charged Wednesday afternoon in the starvation death of another family member, who lived with them.
Investigators say 35-year-old Karen Dreager weighed only 50 pounds when she died August 31st. Doctors told 6 News Monday that the autopsy report described gruesome conditions. Dreager's body was dirty and frail. Her bed pads were soaked with urine.
Dreager, who had cerebral palsy, had lived with her adopted sister, Debra McMahon, brother-in-law, Paul McMahon and their daughter, Kimberly, 18, since 1999.
Debra, Paul and Kimberly McMahon were all arrested by police Wednesday and charged with first degree murder.
The McMahons' also have a son, who's a minor. He isn't charged in this case and his name isn't being released. He lived in the house during the time of Dreager's alleged abuse.
In a press conference Wednesday, Oak Ridge Police Chief David Beams said Dreager's room was also littered with garbage and urine soaked bedding.
"There was a large amount of fly activity present including fly larvae, pupae on the floor bedding and on Miss Dreager's body," Beams said. "Within her bedroom, the officers estimated there were 50 scented candles to mask the odor that was present in the bedroom."
Beams said Dreager was receiving a check for disability benefits. The account was shared by her sister Debra McMahon but police don't know much money was going in or out of the account.
Adult Protective Services, a division of the state Department of Human Services, investigated a complaint involving Dreager's care in July 2002. Counselors investigated and closed the case a year later, saying she no longer needed their help.
From the time the case closed to the time Dreager died, no other complaints were made.
The doctor who performed her autopsy called it the worst type of neglect he's ever seen, saying Dreager was covered in feces and had horrible bedsores rotting the skin on her buttocks. Also, portions of steel wire that surgically implanted in her back to help her cerebral palsy were sticking out through large ulcers.
Each of the three McMahons is being held on a $1 million bond. An arraignment date is pending.
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Well...what chance did she have of recovery? I certainly would not want to live in her condition. It was only humane that the starve her to death. < /sarcasm>
A case very much like this just went to a jury here in Santa Cruz. The two people starved an adult (retarded) sibling and their elderly mother to death.
exactly.
Oak Ridge must not be in Florida!!
Yeah, maybe the family should hire Michael Scumbag Schiavo to come in and explain that Karen's wishes to be left to rot. He's been successful at doing so in the eyes of the courts so far as it pertains to his "wife"
Seems to me the only "crime" they committed was not keeping her clean during the "death process". Terri is so much more fortunate than this woman (sarcasm).
Too bad Ashley Smith couldn't meet with Michael Shiavo. < / sarcasm>
It was a painless death.....if you believe the New York Times.....
Not too different. I guess the main difference is that the judge did not order the starvation in that case.
Starvation is "moral" when commited by a "State" sanctioned killing center.
Oak Ridge in August is more than inhumane. This is how King Lear ends!!
It is very important for all to recognize that there is no hope, we are all terminal. Can anyone PROVE that he is not a "useless eater". ,br>/sarcasm
From the time the case closed to the time Dreager died, no other complaints were made.
**************
Fortunately, the judgement our state agencies is infallible.
This is so sad.
Ah yes, The Soup Nazi has assumed control.
You see where we would be without "due process". No better than savages! Good thing there are some judges among us to keep things tidy!
Maybe they can get Felos as a lawyer and import Greer as judge. I don't see the difference in concept between this and Terri Schiavo's case. Was the adoptive sister her legal guardian? All she has to say is that this woman wanted to die, they discussed it while watching a movie.
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