Sioux City caretaker pleads not guilty to neglect of dependent adult who had maggot-infested wound

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — A Sioux City woman accused of severely mistreating an adult in her care has pleaded not guilty to neglect of a dependent person.

Traci Orr, 51, submitted the plea of not guilty to the class C felony on Wednesday, July 24 in her written arraignment. She had previously been arrested and charged with reckless dependent adult abuse with serious injury, a class D felony.

According to court documents, Sioux City police were called to a local hospital’s ER on May 29 just after 1 a.m. for a dependent adult who was suffering from “severe mistreatment.” Officials said that the victim had been brought in after a fall at her residence and was suffering from “severe rashes, dead skin, and had live maggots living within a wound on her leg.”

The victim told police that she had not seen a doctor for about eight months, adding that she hadn’t had a shower in about the same length of time.

The victim said Orr had lived with her for about a year so Orr could assist in taking care of the victim, documents stated. She also said that she had become unable to walk and would soil herself on the couch. On the night she fell, she was reportedly on the ground for about 14 to 16 hours before Orr called for assistance.

The victim is unable to live on her own so she is classified as a dependent adult, and Orr was to be the victim’s caretaker. Documents state that Orr’s neglect led to the victim’s injuries.

Orr is scheduled to appear on trial on Sep. 8, 2024, at 9:30 a.m.

Wesley Thoene contributed to this report.

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