PENSACOLA, Fla. (TCN) —Â Authorities recently arrested a 54-year-old caregiver on suspicion of leaving her father in a chair for months, causing him to sit in waste and sustain critical injuries and open sores.
According to an arrest report from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, on Aug. 1, deputies responded to Sacred Heart Hospital and learned Pamela Reynolds allegedly hadn’t moved her father, Thomas Reynolds, for around two months. She also had not taken him to a doctor since January, but Pamela Reynolds reportedly said it was because of “transportation issues.”
Per court documents, a nurse practitioner on duty told authorities that Thomas Reynolds suffered a severe sacrum injury and necrosis. He reportedly had maggots and waste on his wounds when he initially arrived at the hospital, but staff cleaned him since. According to authorities, the nurse practitioner explained that Thomas Reynolds’ injuries were possibly caused by being in the same position for months. She also reportedly said the victim had feces in his beard, fingernails, and feet, and he appeared severely malnourished.
Pamela Reynolds allegedly said she resided with her father and was his only caregiver. She reportedly told officials he had multiple health issues, including diabetes and heart failure, and he had difficulty hearing. Reynolds allegedly provided her dad with food and medicine, and said she bathed him and changed his diapers daily. She alleged that she didn’t notice his injuries and explained that the victim would “primarily sit and lie down in his recliner chair in front of the television.”
According to the arrest report, Pamela Reynolds “started to cry” while speaking with authorities and stated that “she knew she was going to jail.”
An officer said in the report that they “could smell decaying flesh” coming from Thomas Reynolds. The victim was allegedly “unable to move himself and lying very stiff with his legs and feet, which were brown and discolored, curled up underneath himself.”
There was reportedly a softball-sized injury on his hip with black and yellow tissue, pus, and fluids coming out. Per the arrest report, he also had pieces of skin peeling, bruising, and open sores.
Officials arrested Pamela Reynolds on one count of elderly neglect causing great bodily harm. She was booked into the Escambia County
on $10,000 bond, according to records.
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