Authorities in Pittsburgh found 44-year-old Elizabeth Fike dead living in filth in a home in Uniontown (KDKA).
Authorities in Pennsylvania are investigating the tragic death of a 44-year-old woman with multiple sclerosis who was found dead living in “deplorable conditions” and reportedly had not been out of bed in over three weeks.
Fayette County Coroner Dr. Bob Baker said his office responded on Thursday to a home in the city of Uniontown, which is some 45 miles south of Pittsburgh. Authorities pronounced Elizabeth Fike dead around 9 a.m.
“Because of the homes deplorable conditions and severity of neglect in care, her death is under investigation,” Baker said. “The cause and manner are pending an autopsy.”
No arrests have been made in the case as cops continue to investigate.
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Baker further detailed the conditions in an interview with local CBS affiliate KDKA.
“As we started doing our investigation, she had not been out of her bed for over three weeks,” Baker told the TV station.
Her bed was completely covered in filth with nearby bath water that was three weeks old, Baker stated. All this despite the fact that authorities also reportedly found a brand-new hospital bed and wheelchair in the home.
“All of it not used, untouched … and she”s laying in this filth,” Baker told KDKA.
Fike was “completely dependent” on others. She was allegedly under the care of her live-in boyfriend Tim Childs, who has not been charged with a crime. He spoke with local ABC affiliate WTAE.
“I have cerebral palsy, and I did the best of my ability to do what I needed to do for her,” Childs told the outlet. “When she had her meds, it was easy. I didn’t have a problem. She ran out of her meds, and it got tougher. I struggled.”
He claimed the meds were “on order, but they hadn’t come in.”
Childs said he did not go into further detail because the case is under investigation.
The coroner said his office will work with police to determine whether charges are warranted in this case.
“My advice would be to check on your loved ones and to if anybody has a smell, a sound or a situation that doesn’t seem comfortable, call, notify somebody. Somebody will come out and do a welfare check,” Baker told KDKA.
