A family member’s request for a welfare check led Oconee County deputies to an 83-year-old woman lying in bed, unresponsive, in a home that deputies say was in disarray. She died weeks later.
Now the woman who was responsible for her care has been charged.
Lorie Ellen Lee, 51, is charged with neglect of a vulnerable adult resulting in death, according to the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office.
What deputies found
On Sept. 18, a relative asked deputies to check on the 83-year-old woman at a home on Dorothy Road.
When deputies went inside, they noticed a strong odor and found the home in disarray. The woman was lying in bed in unsanitary conditions. She was unresponsive and had wounds on her body, according to the sheriff’s office.
Paramedics took her to a hospital. Deputies placed her in Emergency Protective Custody and contacted the South Carolina Department of Social Services.
She died later in September. Officials have not released her name.
What the warrant says
According to the arrest warrant, the woman was bed-bound, and Lee did not provide her with the food and care she needed, which led to her death.
Deputies obtained the warrant based on evidence gathered during their investigation. The sheriff’s office has not said how Lee was related to the woman or how long she had been caring for her.
The charge is an accusation, and Lee is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
How to report suspected neglect
If you believe a vulnerable adult is being abused or neglected, you can call South Carolina Adult Protective Services at 1-888-CARE-4-US (1-888-227-3487). In an emergency, call 911.
Source: Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, as reported by FOX Carolina
