Bradford County, Pa. — A 27-year-old woman neglected a care dependent person who lived in filth and starved due to her actions. The man passed away in February after being admitted to the hospital.
When confronted by a family member, Desiree Lee Rolls of Owego, NY, lowered her head and said nothing, Pennsylvania State Trooper Matthew Santiago said. The victim, who required care six days per week from Rolls, was hospitalized on Feb. 15 of this year. He died a week later on Feb. 28, according to Santiago.
Rolls was employed by Care Givers of America to provide care for the deceased, who needed assistance bathing, eating, taking his medication, and cleaning his home, Santiago wrote in his report. “Through interviews and photographs it was discovered that Rolls neglected her responsibilities multiple times demonstrating a course of conduct of neglect,” Santiago said.
An employee with the Bradford County Area on Aging told investigators the home was infested with bedbugs and filthy, according to Santiago. They expressed concerns the victim was not being fed, bathed, or given his medication. They claimed Rolls was not home when the victim needed care.
The victim’s personal care doctor, who examined him three weeks before he was admitted to the hospital, spoke with Santiago in April. She believed neglect played a role in his death. She allegedly told investigators that Rolls was not giving the victim food or medication.
The victim’s son provided text messages Rolls sent during regularly scheduled work days. Rolls told the victim she wasn’t going to make it on Feb. 6. She sent another on Feb. 9 telling the victim she would be there tomorrow. A check with Care Givers of America showed Rolls did not call off those days and submitted timecards for them. “She reported to be present and completing most of her tasks,” Santiago said.
Nurses had to clean dry feces off the victim the day he was admitted to the hospital, according to the affidavit. He allegedly told his son he had been in that condition for 40 hours. Rolls held her head down and would not speak when the son confronted her about it.
A juvenile living with the victim told police Rolls would be there three- or four-days max, Santiago said. Rolls was scheduled to be with the man Tuesday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to Santiago. The child claimed to see Rolls sometimes before leaving for school. On the day the victim went to the hospital, the juvenile said Rolls was in her vehicle sitting outside when she left for school.
At 9 a.m., when family members arrived at the home to help the victim, Rolls was allegedly still sitting inside her car out front. “Additionally, [juvenile] related that Rolls would not do any cleaning and would not give the victim a bath,” Santiago said.
A property manager at the trailer court told police he knew Rolls was neglecting her duties, according to the report. He provided pictures that showed spoiled food, dirty dishes, and burnt or spilled food throughout the kitchen of the home.
The man claimed he and his wife took the victim to get his medication on Feb. 5 when he called them, according to Santiago. A receipt given to investigators showed the couple signed for the victim’s medication. They filled his pill tray for him, too.
The witness told investigators about two other days that included getting medication and providing food for the victim, Santiago said. He was assisted getting out of his home when it was sprayed for bedbugs on another day, Santiago added. Both days Rolls’ employer did not receive a sick notice, according to Santiago.
Witnesses claimed to see Rolls sitting or sleeping in her car outside the victim’s home regularly, according to the report. A witness said the victim called a lot for help getting food and going to the bathroom, which were jobs Rolls was responsible for, according to the complaint. “The victim would often relate that he had not eaten because Rolls never showed up for work,” Santiago said.
Rolls is being charged with endangering the welfare of a care dependent person and recklessly endangering another person. She is being held at the Bradford County Prison on $85,000 monetary bail. She is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing later in the month.
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