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RIVERTON — A Riverton woman caring for her elderly father is now facing a criminal charge after police say the father was found deceased in their home in deplorable conditions.
Patricia Bodily Brown, 59, was charged Friday in 3rd District Court with aggravated abuse of a vulnerable adult, a second-degree felony.
According to charging documents, Brown was the sole caretaker of her father, Errol Glade Bodily, 82, who was found deceased in his Riverton home in January. According to his obituary, he died on Jan. 14.
When officers were called to the home on Jan. 15, they "discovered it was filthy consistent with hoarders. (One officer) observed several boxes and miscellaneous items stacked on the walkway leading to the front door. (The officer) also detected a strong odor and saw more boxes, food, and other items stacked in the hallways to the point that he had to walk sideways to enter," the charges state.
Officers also noticed it was "very cold inside and that there was trash and clutter both inside and outside" including the floors being "caked with dirt, fecal matter, and filth" and rodent droppings in Bodily's room, according to the charges.
"Errol was wearing a soiled adult diaper and heavy flannel shirt. There were significant bruises, scratches, and abrasions to his legs, his feet were discolored, and his left foot had blisters which were popped and seeping puss," the charges state, in addition to "gangrenous toes which developed over a long period of time."
Officers also noted it was 42 degrees in the home.
As investigators continued to look into the history of Brown and her father, they learned that Bodily had hip replacement surgery and in October "he fell in his bedroom and laid on the floor for two to three days," according to the charges.
"Brown stated that Errol did not see any physician or seek medical care since October 2023. She stated the hospital offered hospice services which she refused because she was told they may need a key to the home. Brown stated that Errol was also required to go to rehabilitation during November and December 2023, but she did not take him to those appointments," the charges state.
