Pasco County Sheriff's deputies arrested a Dade City man on Dec. 27 and charged him with neglect/abuse of the elderly after they found an 80-year-old man in the suspect's care in very poor health and lying in feces and urine.
- Deputies found victim during welfare check
- Richard Meyers IV, 52, told deputies he was responsible
- Meyers charged with Neglect/Abuse of Elderly
Officials said deputies found the victim while performing a welfare check. In addition to lying in feces and urine, deputies said the victim had multiple bedsores, and had to be transported to a local hospital.
The victim was later found to have advanced stages of sepsis and necrotic wounds. Deputies reported that the victim had been bedridden for an indeterminate amount of time and forced to urinate and defecate in his bed, which he shared with dogs that slept, urinated, and defecated around him.
Units from the county's building department, Animal Control and social services all responded to the location of the welfare check in response to the investigation. The building department condemned the residence, and Animal Control removed several dogs.
Deputies made contact with Richard Meyers IV, 52, upon arrival at the scene. According to a county arrest affidavit, Meyers told deputies he was aware of the condition of the victim, and refused to get him medical help because he did not want anyone to see the condition of his home.
After he was read his rights, Meyers told deputies he was responsible for the condition of the home and the failure to provide medical care to the victim.
Meyers was arrested and charged with Neglect/Abuse of the Elderly. He was also issued four citations by county code enforcement totaling $1,469.