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Son’s neglect of elderly mother after fall killed her, coroner says

Alma Gaines’ death ruled homicide; Mack Gaines charged

Mack Adams Gaines
Oconee County Sheriff's Office
Mack Adams Gaines
SOURCE: Oconee County Sheriff's Office
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Son’s neglect of elderly mother after fall killed her, coroner says

Alma Gaines’ death ruled homicide; Mack Gaines charged

An elderly woman died after a fall in her home because of her son’s neglect, according to the coroner. Coroner Karl Addis said Alma Louise Gaines, 92, was admitted Dec. 18 to Oconee County Hospital, three days after she fell at home. EMS personnel called to the home found Gaines lying unconscious on the floor, unclothed from the waist down, covered in feces and urine, officials said. An arrest warrant said Gaines was unable to move from the floor where she fell, and her son, Mack Adams Gaines, did not provide her adequate food and water and did not seek medical attention for her. Mack Gaines, 57, was arrested and charged with neglect of a vulnerable adult. Addis said it is his understanding that the suspect is Alma Gaines’ son. Mack Gaines was released on bond Dec. 21. Addis said Alma Gaines was transferred Dec. 27 to hospice care at Cottingham Hospice House in Seneca, where she died on Jan. 17. An autopsy on Jan. 18 found that Gaines died from medical complications secondary to her fall, and her death was ruled a homicide. A release Monday from the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office said Mack Gaines is charged with neglect of a vulnerable adult resulting in death. He is being held in the Oconee County Detention Center.

An elderly woman died after a fall in her home because of her son’s neglect, according to the coroner.

Coroner Karl Addis said Alma Louise Gaines, 92, was admitted Dec. 18 to Oconee County Hospital, three days after she fell at home.

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EMS personnel called to the home found Gaines lying unconscious on the floor, unclothed from the waist down, covered in feces and urine, officials said.

An arrest warrant said Gaines was unable to move from the floor where she fell, and her son, Mack Adams Gaines, did not provide her adequate food and water and did not seek medical attention for her.

Mack Gaines, 57, was arrested and charged with neglect of a vulnerable adult. Addis said it is his understanding that the suspect is Alma Gaines’ son.

Mack Gaines was released on bond Dec. 21.

Addis said Alma Gaines was transferred Dec. 27 to hospice care at Cottingham Hospice House in Seneca, where she died on Jan. 17.

An autopsy on Jan. 18 found that Gaines died from medical complications secondary to her fall, and her death was ruled a homicide.

A release Monday from the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office said Mack Gaines is charged with neglect of a vulnerable adult resulting in death.

He is being held in the Oconee County Detention Center.