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TAYLORSVILLE — Two women have been criminally charged after allegedly not providing proper care to their ailing uncle before he died, also giving him heroin to ease his pain.
Kelly Ann Wallwork, 55, and Kelly Ryan Ringwood, 37, both of Herriman, were each charged Friday in 3rd District Court with intentional aggravated abuse of a vulnerable adult, a second-degree felony. Wallwork was initially arrested in December and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of manslaughter.
On Dec. 27, Taylorsville police were called to an apartment near 4260 South and 850 West on a report of an unconscious man who was not breathing. Nicholas James Wallwork, 66, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ringwood and Wallwork told investigators their uncle "had been sick with an abscess on his leg for several weeks, that he needed assistance to move, even to use the bathroom" and recently had a "stomach bug" in addition to having dementia, according to charging documents.
Police noted both women were under the influence of drugs as they spoke to them, the charges state. Medical crews determined Nicholas Wallwork had been dead for a few hours by the time first responders arrived, according to police.
Investigators also found medications, disposable urinals, absorbent pads, drug paraphernalia and a a journal in which "Wallwork had written down everything that she had given (Nicholas) and that she had diluted the heroin down," the charges state.
Wallwork allegedly made statements to police such as, "I just wanted to help him and make him comfortable," "Maybe he knew he was going to die and just let himself go," "Maybe he wanted to die," and "I do everything for him and somehow I'm the one that is in trouble."
Related:
Taylorsville woman arrested, accused of manslaughter in uncle's overdose death
A Taylorsville woman has been arrested for investigation of manslaughter after she allegedly told police she administered multiple doses of heroin to her uncle to ease his pain.Ringwood allegedly told detectives she had been living with Nicholas Wallwork for four to five years and, right before his death, had an infection in his toe that "was going up his leg" for the past few months, according to the charges. Three days before his death, Ringwood said her uncle's health "took a turn."
"Ringwood stated that she and Wallwork tried to talk him into going to the hospital and finally talked him into taking a shower," according to the charges.
She also allegedly said her uncle used heroin and would normally give it to himself, but on the night before his death, asked if Ringwood and Wallwork would inject him, the charges state.
Detectives also served a search warrant on the residence and found the kitchen and bathroom in filthy condition, as well as needles with syringes, two burned spoons and other drug paraphernalia, according to charging documents.
During the autopsy, doctors noted "a large area around (Nicholas Wallwork's) right ankle that was missing skin and appeared to be infected" and "found signs that (he) had suffered from ulcers and internal intestinal bleeding for some time with parts of his intestine having diverticulitis and other parts having gone gangrene."
Doctors say Wallwork lost 33 pounds in the final two months of his life.
