A 75-year-old West Virginia woman is facing charges after allegedly leaving her blind, dementia-stricken husband stranded on a toilet for 19 hours while he groaned in pain and eventually passed out. Margaret Louise Rog was arrested following the death of her 76-year-old husband, who was found in dangerously poor condition by a speech therapist at their Morgantown home. The victim died ten days after being rushed to the hospital, with authorities citing neglect as a significant factor in his passing.
Background
The incident began on Aug. 20 at a residence in the 100 block of Orchard Crossing in Morgantown, West Virginia. According to a criminal complaint obtained by Law&Crime, Rog’s husband, who suffered from legal blindness, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease, went to the bathroom around 3 p.m. Unable to stand up on his own, he called for assistance. Rog attempted to lift him but failed, leaving him seated on the toilet.
For the next 19 hours, Rog allegedly ignored her husband’s continuous groans of pain. Deputies with the Monongalia County Sheriff's Office stated that Rog did not call 911, contact any other individuals for help, or provide the victim with food, water, or his necessary medications. Instead, she went to bed, leaving her husband unattended and unresponsive in the bathroom.
The situation came to light the following morning when a speech therapist arrived for a scheduled in-home visit. The therapist discovered the man in a critical state and immediately called for emergency services. He was transported to a local hospital, where medical staff diagnosed him with sepsis and heart failure, along with pressure wounds on his backside. He died on Aug. 31.
The Investigation
Investigators from the Monongalia County Sheriff's Office allege that Rog made several incriminating statements during questioning, indicating she understood her husband required medical assistance but deliberately chose not to provide it. An autopsy later concluded that the injuries sustained during his 19-hour ordeal on the toilet were significant contributing factors to his death.
Rog was charged with abuse of an incapacitated adult with a substantial risk of death. She was taken into custody on Tuesday and booked into the North Central Regional Jail. Authorities set her bond at $75,000, which she subsequently posted to secure her release pending further legal proceedings.
Key Takeaways
- Margaret Louise Rog, 75, is charged with abuse of an incapacitated adult with a substantial risk of death.
- The victim, a 76-year-old man with blindness and dementia, was left on a toilet for 19 hours without food, water, or medication.
- Rog allegedly went to bed while her husband groaned in pain and became unresponsive.
- A speech therapist discovered the victim in critical condition, leading to his hospitalization and subsequent death from sepsis and heart failure.
- An autopsy confirmed that injuries from the neglect were significant contributing factors to the death.
- Rog posted a $75,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 25.
What's Next
Margaret Louise Rog is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 25 to address the charges against her. As the case moves forward, prosecutors will likely focus on the timeline of the 19-hour period and the specific statements Rog made to deputies regarding her decision to leave her husband unattended. The investigation remains focused on the extent of her caregiver responsibilities and the deliberate nature of her alleged neglect.