Sisters Charged in South Carolina for the Negl3ct Resuiting in Their Mother’s Death

 

Sisters Charged in South Carolina for the Neglect Resulting in Their Mother’s Death

On a quiet street in Rock Hill, South Carolina, a macabre tale of neglect unfolded, leading to the tragic demise of 99-year-old Martha Rutledge. The primary suspects – her own daughters, 68-year-old Martha Carroll Rutledge, and 73-year-old Nancy Rutledge, who had been serving as her caregivers. The sisters turned themselves in, now facing charges of abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult resulting in death, a felony carrying a penalty ranging from probation to 30 years in prison.

Responding to a call at the Rutledge residence, authorities discovered a horrifying scene. Martha Rutledge’s emaciated body bore the stark evidence of extreme neglect – multiple festering bedsores and wounds at various stages of decomposition, some severe enough to expose her hip bones. Weighing a mere 74 pounds at her death, Martha’s body told a chilling story of prolonged suffering and abandonment.

The Autopsy Report: A Testament to Suffering

An autopsy revealed that Martha Rutledge’s death was primarily due to infections from the untreated bedsores. Shockingly, the report also indicated that the elderly woman had not received any form of medical care for over a decade. The toxicology reports added a further layer of perplexity, showing a blood alcohol concentration of .105 and the presence of Delta 9 THC – substances that the authorities believe Martha could not have consumed by herself given her dire physical condition.

The Courtroom: Bonds, Monitoring, and Family Defense

In a bond hearing, the sisters were granted a $40,000 bond each. The judge set their initial court date for March 4 and, heeding the concerns of the family’s advocates about the possibility of the sisters fleeing to Florida, ordered them to wear a body monitoring system until the court proceedings. They were also barred from caring for any elderly individuals until further notice. Despite the damning evidence against them, the defendants found an unlikely defender in their sister, Ann Rutledge. She pleaded with the judge for leniency, insisting that her sisters had no ill intent and had tried their utmost to make their mother comfortable in her final years