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.
Pulled a Mikee Schivo eh?
Sick Bastards. Hope they rot in decline the same way they forced this poor woman to do.
Excellent find.
If those who want to murder Terri get by with it, all of are in danger from anyone who might decide to starve us for the good of the family and society. Then after they killed us, they could claim that we wanted it done.
Phil fyi and files.
Yeah - my neighbors.
Life is good, eh?
Perhaps they should explain that she wanted to die that way.
This is a terrible case. And you must note that the person who was starved was NOT a PVS patient. There is simply no moral equivalency.
Goes well with this story too:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1367932/posts
The whole thing is making me sick. What a twisted thing to do to an innocent person and all under the guise of "legality". Seems so obvious to me that the husband has a conflict of interest and therefore custody should be given to the parents and IF after attempted therapy it is universally agreed that she truly is in a PVS then the parents can make the decision.
What is the intent of "law"? To serve itself or to right wrongs?
Dr. William Hammesfahr, the only neurologist who's spent any significant time with Terri, likened her condition to that of a child with cerebral palsy.
That rang true to me. Terri's laugh, and her attempts to speak, sound uncannily like those of a child with cerebral palsy who lives in my neighborhood.
This child, who looks at least as disabled as Terri, gets wheeled around in his wheelchair to parks and ball games. He goes to a special school and also gets to attend school events of his siblings. I hear him laughing in the back of the auditorium at school plays.
So sad that Terri is never allowed to leave her room.
Yeah, I saw that one eailer. Creepy.
Do you have a link to the Collingswood story? If so, I'd appreciate it if you'd post it.
Thank you for posting it. Let those who think starving someone to death isn't horrible.
.
bump.....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.