Evansville couple accused of neglecting disabled elder causing death

Warning: Some details in this story may be considered disturbing.

Editor’s note: Frederick and Carmen Groves are now in custody.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) – A husband and wife in Evansville are facing several charges after police say they neglected a disabled adult in their home, and left him in poor conditions that contributed to his death.

Evansville Police were dispatched to a home in the 900 block of Fourth Avenue on June 23 after Frederick Groves, 60, reported that his father-in-law had died at some point the previous night. Firefighters and paramedics arrived at the scene and said Kenneth Rickenbaugh was beyond help, and no lifesaving measures were taken.

According to an affidavit, Rickenbaugh was found emaciated in a first floor bedroom that authorities described as smelling heavily of feces. While removing his body from the scene, authorities say his body had “sunken” into the couch, and the fabric from the couch cushion had become stuck to his skin.

The affidavit also says the floor was moist when police were at the scene, and it appeared that the room had recently been mopped.

During an interview, police said Groves admitted to never going into the room and that his wife, Carmen Groves, 49, fed Rickenbaugh. He also said he assumed that Rickenbaugh just defecated and urinated on himself lying on the couch and that Rickenbaugh would always stay in the room saying “Help”. When asked about the floor of Rickenbaugh’s room, Groves reportedly said he and his wife cleaned dog feces so first responders wouldn’t step on it.

Police say Carmen Groves told a story that was inconsistent and changed multiple times during their interview. Carmen initially told officers she found her father deceased at approximately 11 a.m., and she then spent around five minutes cleaning up cold medicine that had spilled on the floor. However, after being asked why the 911 call was not made until 4 hours later, she reportedly changed her story and said that she found Rickenbaugh at 1 p.m..

During the interview, Carmen also reportedly told police that her father had been lying on his back in bed for a week straight, but then later changed her story to say that she assisted him into a wheelchair just a few days prior. When asked if she helped him use the restroom, police said she made statements indicating she believed her father faked his disability and got up and used the restroom when she and her husband were away.

During a search of the home, police say they found a wheelchair inside the room where Rickenbaugh was found, but said it had various items sitting on the seat that indicated it had not been used in some time. Police described a room between the Groves’ and Rickenbaugh’s room that was covered “nearly wall to wall with dog feces”.

While reviewing Rickenbaugh’s bank statements, police say they located a pattern of transactions consistent with the account being “cleaned out” and then checked to make sure the balance was emptied. Frederick had previously told officers that Rickenbaugh received a check each month that goes into a debit card that only Frederick knew the PIN to use.

An autopsy report for Rickenbaugh stated the death was due to cardiovascular disease, with emphysema, failure to thrive, dehydration and pressure sores contributing to his death.

Frederick and Carmen Groves were both charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death, altering the scene of a death and failure to report human remains. Frederick Groves was also charged with exploitation of an endangered adult.

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