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Murder charges for family in Oak Ridge starvation case [12-8-04]
6 News ^ | 12-8-04 | Danielle Banks

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.


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: schiavo; starvation; terri; terrischiavo
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I know this doesn't parallel exactly w/ Terri's case but a caller on Bill Bennett's show this morning asked if there were any cases where people were "charged with starvation" and I found this one fitting and figured I'd pass it along.
1 posted on 03/22/2005 8:47:02 AM PST by OXENinFLA
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To: Mo1; Howlin; Peach; BeforeISleep; kimmie7; 4integrity; BigSkyFreeper; RandallFlagg; ...
PING...
2 posted on 03/22/2005 8:47:34 AM PST by OXENinFLA
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To: OXENinFLA

.


3 posted on 03/22/2005 8:48:38 AM PST by OXENinFLA
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To: OXENinFLA

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>


4 posted on 03/22/2005 8:49:57 AM PST by colorcountry (All the people like us are we, and everyone else is They. ...Rudyard Kipling)
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To: OXENinFLA

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.


5 posted on 03/22/2005 8:52:00 AM PST by EggsAckley
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To: colorcountry

exactly.


6 posted on 03/22/2005 8:52:16 AM PST by Jerry Attrick (<B>)
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To: OXENinFLA

Oak Ridge must not be in Florida!!


7 posted on 03/22/2005 8:52:23 AM PST by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)
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To: colorcountry

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"


8 posted on 03/22/2005 8:52:45 AM PST by austinaero
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To: OXENinFLA

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).


9 posted on 03/22/2005 8:53:06 AM PST by 1Peter3v14
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To: OXENinFLA
It doesn't matter. Terri will die a miserable death becuase too many Americans don't want to hear it anymore: media exhaustion.

Too bad Ashley Smith couldn't meet with Michael Shiavo. < / sarcasm>

10 posted on 03/22/2005 8:53:11 AM PST by Chieftain (There are still many questions to be answered...)
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To: All

It was a painless death.....if you believe the New York Times.....


11 posted on 03/22/2005 8:53:15 AM PST by texan75010 (You lost - MoveOn...to France, or Canada, or New Zealand, or Germany...take your pick.)
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To: OXENinFLA

Not too different. I guess the main difference is that the judge did not order the starvation in that case.


12 posted on 03/22/2005 8:53:57 AM PST by Brilliant
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To: OXENinFLA

Starvation is "moral" when commited by a "State" sanctioned killing center.


13 posted on 03/22/2005 8:53:59 AM PST by Lindykim (*)
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To: colorcountry

Oak Ridge in August is more than inhumane. This is how King Lear ends!!


14 posted on 03/22/2005 8:54:10 AM PST by massgopguy (massgopguy)
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To: colorcountry

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


15 posted on 03/22/2005 8:55:01 AM PST by yatros from flatwater (Justice, Justice, you shall pursue!)
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To: OXENinFLA
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.

**************

Fortunately, the judgement our state agencies is infallible.

This is so sad.

16 posted on 03/22/2005 8:55:50 AM PST by trisham (choose life!)
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To: Lindykim

Ah yes, The Soup Nazi has assumed control.


17 posted on 03/22/2005 8:55:51 AM PST by massgopguy (massgopguy)
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Comment #18 Removed by Moderator

To: Brilliant

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!


19 posted on 03/22/2005 8:58:24 AM PST by yatros from flatwater (Justice, Justice, you shall pursue!)
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To: OXENinFLA

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.


20 posted on 03/22/2005 8:58:27 AM PST by pieces of time
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