Charges filed in death of ‘vulnerable adult’ involving heroin, unfit living conditions, infection

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SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah ( ABC4 ) — The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office has filed charges in the death of a vulnerable adult, after the victim was allegedly dosed with heroin, was suffering from an infection, and living in unsanitary conditions.

On Dec. 27, 2023, Taylorsville police responded to a call from two women — Kimberly Ann Wallwork and Kelly Ryan Ringwood — who reported that their relative had died. When an officer arrived on scene, he saw the victim on the ground, “pale and covered in blankets,” a press release from the D.A.’s office states.

Medical personnel performed CPR on the victim but he was pronounced dead, having already been deceased for a few hours, officials said.

“In the deceased’s bedroom, an officer found absorbent pads on the bed and floor, disposable urinals on the floor, and a journal that had an entry from that night before where Ms. Wallwork had written down doses of heroin that she had given [the victim],” the release states.

Wallwork allegedly told police that the victim had developed a drug problem, using heroin. Wallwork said the victim typically gave himself the drug, but that the night before, he couldn’t, and instead asked that she and Ringwood give it to him.

“I just wanted to help him and make him comfortable,” Wallwork told police.

Ringwood told police she watched Wallwork give the victim heroin and wrote it down in a book. She allegedly said she had been living with and taking care of the victim for four to five years, but that he had recently developed an infection.

She claimed that within the three days leading up to his death, his health took a turn.

“Before the infection, he could drive himself around and get himself to the bathroom, but since the infection, he couldn’t get to the bathroom himself, so he started using urinals in his bedroom,” the release states. “Ms. Ringwood said that they had tried to get [the victim] to go to the hospital, but they were only able to convince him to take a shower. After the shower, the women said because he is a solid man, they couldn’t get him back in his bed, so they laid him on the ground.”

Upon searching the apartment, detectives found the kitchen cluttered with dirty dishes, soiled absorbent pads on the floor, and full trash bags on the floor. They also found the bathroom to be highly unsanitary, sharing graphic details of the scene.

A doctor at the Utah State Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy on the victim and found that he had also been suffering from bed sores, which they said may have occurred during the time that he was left on the floor without care.

“The doctor also found a large area around the victim’s right ankle that was missing skin and appeared to be infected,” the release states.

Police also determined that the victim had lost 33 pounds in 3 months.

Wallwork and Ringwood were each charged with one count of second-degree felony aggravated abuse of a vulnerable adult.

“The vulnerable people in our lives depend on us to help them live and thrive. If you are a caregiver struggling to keep up with the demands of the person you are caring for, please reach out to others or seek out community resources for help,” said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill. “All persons accused of wrongdoing are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.”

No further information is available at this time.

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