Dad, girlfriend charged after disabled son died of septic shock from bed sores
A Vermont man and his girlfriend have been charged with neglect, manslaughter and Medicare fraud after authorities say his severely disabled son died of septic shock from infected bed sores.
A Vermont man and his girlfriend have been charged with neglect, manslaughter and Medicare fraud after authorities say his severely disabled son died of septic shock from infected bed sores.
A Vermont man and his girlfriend have been charged with neglect, manslaughter and Medicare fraud after authorities say his severely disabled son died of septic shock from infected bed sores.
Jeffrey Kittredge, 51, and Jennifer Cote, 42, of Montpelier, pleaded not guilty last week to charges in the July 2016 death of 20-year-old Jeffrey A. Kittredge II.
Kittredge and Cote were caregivers who received federal benefits for caring for the man, who suffered from spina bifida and a brain development birth defect.
The victim needed 24-hour care.
He was partially paralyzed, confined to a wheelchair and relied on a tracheostomy to assist his breathing.
"Jeffrey could feed himself, but he relied on his caregivers for bathing, grooming and getting dressed," a court affidavit said.
He was able to attend classes at Montpelier High School and walked at graduation in June 2014.
According to court documents, Kittredge failed multiple times to take his son to medical appointments and get him the care he needed.
The condition inside the family's home were described as deplorable.
The victim developed bed sores in early 2016 that turned into open wounds.
Kittredge told authorities he felt the sores had been getting better.
His son's skin was determined to be "rotting away." He also suffered from ulcers and sepsis.
The medical examiner described Jeffrey's wounds as "some of the most disgusting sores he had ever seen in his career."
He determined Jeffrey was likely left seated in his wheelchair for an extended period of time.
The state said Cote was a former licensed nursing assistant until 2006. She was paid $126,595 as the victim's personal care assistant from April 2011 to July 2016.
Investigators said the Kittredge and Cote submitted time sheets for almost $4,000 for the two weeks after the victim was admitted to UVM Medical Center.
They declined additional home care, court records showed.
The medical examiner ruled Jeffrey's death a homicide due to neglect of care.
Kittredge and Cote were each charged with three counts of neglect of a vulnerable adult, involuntary manslaughter and Medicaid fraud.
They were released on $25,000 bail and will be back in court on Nov. 30.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.