Pennsylvania authorities said Tuesday that a 21-year-old blind and deaf man with cerebral palsy has been charged in connection with the death of a 21-year-old man who died in September after months of starvation. Announced.
Tillim Hatchett was found dead on the floor of his apartment, weighing only 59 pounds, and the coroner determined his death was caused in part by complications from cerebral palsy, according to the Pennsylvania District Attorney's Office. However, it was clear that he had starved to death.
Tillim's mother, Sherilyn Hawkins, father, Vernon Hatchett, and caregiver, Loretta Harris, have all been charged with child neglect, according to a report. news release From District Attorney Kevin Steele's office.
Hawkins is charged with first-degree murder and third-degree murder. Hatchett is charged with manslaughter and Harris is charged with theft by deception.
Mr. Hawkins and Mr. Harris both received stipends to care for Tillim, who was often neglected for long periods of time, Mr. Steele wrote.
Tillim was unable to care for himself due to complications from cerebral palsy, including immobility, blindness, and hearing loss. Although he was completely dependent on his parents and caretakers, Steele claimed that in the last 18 days of his life, he was left alone for 356 out of 425 hours.
During that time, his mother pocketed $2,000 from a company called Avianna Healthcare. Mr. Harris also cashed out $3,000 from the company.
Detectives on the case “spent a lot of time making this determination, trying to show where these individuals were and that they were not with Tillim.” [is where] They were paid to do that,” Steele said at a news conference.
These efforts included tracking the location of Hawkins' cell phone, what her car looked like on license plate readers in the area, swipe access records to the Promenade building where Tillim lived, and other data. It was.
Mr Steele said each of the three had failed in their responsibility to care for Ms Tillim, who was completely dependent on them. The neglect lasted for months, if not years.
Tillim had lost more than 30 pounds since February when she was weighed at Abington Hospital and was listed at 90 pounds.
“This is a person who was unable to take care of himself and was completely dependent on care. He was dependent on care and they starved him to death. During this period, they We just didn't feed them,” Steele said.
“They are receiving money even though they are not doing any work. These were deliberate omissions that she was making during this time. [Hawkins] I had a duty as a parent, [Harris] Even though she had obligations as a contract worker and received benefits for that, she let him die. ”
Hawkins and Harris are in custody, but Hatchett has not yet been arrested. Police are still trying to track him down so he can be arraigned on serious charges.
