A North Carolina caregiver has been charged with first-degree murder after authorities allege she repeatedly assaulted a nonverbal woman with autism in her care—including shocking her with a Taser and stomping her to death—at her Dallas home before attempting suicide by crashing her car, investigators said.
Background
Marlo Wallace, 59, is accused of killing 23-year-old Aaliyah Fortner, who had been placed under Wallace's guardianship due to her disabilities. The investigation began on Oct. 26, 2025, when the Gastonia Police Department responded to a crash between a semi-truck and Wallace's vehicle near her home in the 1800 block of Green Brook Trail in Dallas.
According to investigators, after being taken to the hospital following the collision, Wallace told officers they would find a deceased person at her residence. Police proceeded to the home and discovered Fortner's body.
A probable cause arrest affidavit detailed alleged abuse occurring on multiple occasions, including hitting Fortner with objects, pushing her to the ground, using a Taser on her, kicking her, and stomping on her head. The document stated Wallace was originally charged with concealment of death from unnatural causes, patient abuse and neglect, and felony assault of an individual with disabilities.
Fortner's brother, Caleb Simpson, spoke publicly about his sister's ordeal in interviews with local media outlets WSOC and WCNC. He described the difficulty of knowing his sister could not communicate what was happening to her.
"For her to be alone through all of that and then for it to end the way it did, I hate to even think what was going on in her mind," Simpson told WSOC. "It hurts. My sister went through all of that alone."
Records obtained by WCNC revealed that authorities had previously revoked Wallace's guardianship of another nonverbal adult living at her home approximately two years before Fortner's placement with her.
"Watch who you trust. Everybody should be angry about something like this," Simpson told WCNC. "Let's say you sit there and you trust the state, and then they just fail you like that. Makes no sense."
The Investigation
Following the initial charges, prosecutors reviewed autopsy results and determined that Wallace murdered Fortner with "malice afterthought," leading to the first-degree murder charge upgrade. The complete autopsy findings have not been made public.
A second woman involved in Fortner's care, Vera Williams, also faces charges of patient abuse and neglect and felony assault of an individual with disabilities.
Key Takeaways
- Aaliyah Fortner, 23, was nonverbal due to autism and entrusted to Marlo Wallace's care
- Police discovered Fortner's body at Wallace's Dallas home after she reported finding a deceased person following her car crash
- The probable cause affidavit alleges months of abuse including Taser shocks, beatings, and stomping to the head
- Prosecutors upgraded charges to first-degree murder after reviewing autopsy results
- Another woman, Vera Williams, faces related charges in Fortner's death
- Wallace previously had guardianship revoked for another nonverbal adult two years prior
What's Next
Wallace remains detained at the Gaston County Jail without bond. Her next scheduled court appearance is set for June 19. The case continues under investigation by the Gastonia Police Department with prosecutorial support from local authorities.