A 71-year-old woman dies in an unlicensed adult foster care home. Now, the women in charge of taking care of her are charged with murder.
Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell says, "Joann Christopher weighed at the time of her death, 64 lbs. The only thing she had in her stomach was a fruit peel. We believe to be an orange peel."
The Genesee County medical examiner rules the death a homicide saying ulcers, malnutrition, and dehydration killed 71-year-old Joann Christopher.
Seventy year old Mary Chapman and her granddaughter 33-year-old Vamerolyn Chapman are charged with neglecting their duties as caregivers. They're charged with felony murder, which carries a life sentence and second degree vulnerable adult abuse, a four year felony.
The sheriff says one of the women noticed Christopher wasn't eating back in February. However, Pickell says, "Our investigation reveals that Joann Christopher never saw a doctor. She was never was taken to a hospital."
The sheriff says when the 911 call came out from the home on West Stanley Road in Mt. Morris Township, Christopher had been dead for hours and that the caregivers made several phone calls prior to calling 911 and moved four adults out of the home.
Police are also investigating Mary Chapman's establishment on Flint's Beard Street where a 91-year-old woman died.
Pickell says on arriving, "Rodents are jumping all over. The place was infested with mice and other types of insects."
Neighbors say they're glad issues are being addressed. Christine DiGiovanni lives next to the Beard Street location. "It didn't seem very well run. Let me put it that way," says DiGiovanni.
The sheriff says the arrests dismantle a network of 14 unlicensed homes.
Ten have been taken to other facilities.
The sheriff says Chapman was paid $800 a month by Chapman's guardian to take car of her.
