Authorities in Pittsburgh found 44-year-old Elizabeth Fike dead living in filth in a home in Uniontown (KDKA).
In Pennsylvania, officials are delving into the heartbreaking case of a 44-year-old woman who suffered from multiple sclerosis and was discovered deceased in her home under “appalling conditions.” Reports indicate she had been confined to her bed for more than three weeks before her death.
Dr. Bob Baker, the Fayette County Coroner, revealed that his team was called to a residence in Uniontown, located approximately 45 miles from Pittsburgh, on a Thursday morning. Upon arrival, they declared Elizabeth Fike dead at around 9 a.m.
“Due to the home’s squalid state and the severe neglect evident in her care, an investigation into her death is currently underway,” Baker stated. “The precise cause and manner of death will be determined following an autopsy.”
As of now, law enforcement has not made any arrests, as the investigation is still in progress.
In a conversation with KDKA, a local CBS affiliate, Baker elaborated on the dire situation.
“During our investigation, we found that she had remained in her bed for over three weeks,” Baker shared with the television 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.
