Inset: Richard McClintic (Sacramento police). Background: McClintic”s apartment in the 2000 block of San Juan Road in Sacramento, California, where cops found him dead (Google Maps).
A caregiver in California has been charged with the murder of a 59-year-old man with cerebral palsy, a charge which comes after she allegedly tried to hide his death, according to reports from law enforcement.
The man, identified as Richard McClintic, was declared missing from his residence in the 2000 block of San Juan Road on October 25, following unsuccessful attempts by his family to contact him. Police conducted a welfare check on the same day but were unable to locate him.
Authorities obtained a search warrant for McClintic’s apartment and discovered his body on November 6. Following this discovery, his caregiver, 41-year-old Christina Cowens, was apprehended on charges of unlawful disposal of a body, grand theft, and attempting to conceal a death.
Subsequent to an autopsy, law enforcement officials pressed additional charges, including homicide and other fraud-related offenses. The details surrounding the cause of McClintic’s death and any possible motive remain undisclosed by authorities.
Brandon Klagenberg, McClintic’s nephew, shared with NBC affiliate KCRA that regular conversations with McClintic ceased after the passing of his sister. The family grew suspicious when they began receiving messages from McClintic’s Facebook account that seemed out of character, Klagenberg noted.
Worried about his well-being, family members visited his apartment but were met by Cowens, who refused to allow them entry.
That’s when the family contacted police, which started investigating as a missing persons case until finding his body. Klagenberg said Cowens has been caring for his uncle, who has little control over the right side of his body, for years. But family members grew wary of her when she wouldn’t let them see him, making them think she may have harmed him.
“This is what we expected all along,” he told KCRA.
McClintic loved sports, particularly the Pittsburgh Steelers, and although he needed help to get around was pretty independent, his nephew told local ABC affiliate KXTV.
“This is the will of somebody who is extremely resilient and overcome his conditions in life, and didn’t let that bring his entire world down,” Klagenberg said.
Now the family is grappling with the question of why someone would hurt their loved one.
“To know that someone is capable of doing this to a disabled person in my uncle’s condition is just outrageous,” Klagenberg said.
Cowens is slated to return to court on Nov. 24.
