Elderly mom clinging to life after son, daughter allegedly left her in own urine, feces

A Sumter, South Carolina, son and daughter are accused of neglecting their 66-year-old mother to the point she experienced dehydration, kidney failure, and liver failure.

Michael Lamont, 44, and Teresa Michelle Choice, 36, were charged with neglecting a vulnerable adult on Friday. Doctors said the mother was unconscious and suffering from serious wounds related to lying in her own feces and urine for an unknown period of time, according to WLTX.  In addition to other alarming medical issues caused by the supposed neglect, the mother had diabetic wounds on her legs and feet which were left untreated.

The 66-year-old’s injuries are so severe that she may not recover, deputy Ken Bell said in a statement obtained by WBTW.

The adult siblings lived with their mother along with Choice’s 8 and 12-year-old children. The State reported that deputies called their living conditions “deplorable,” noting feces on the walls and floor, no functional bathroom, and buckets along the wall. They also claimed the Sumter home had no edible food and trash was located throughout the house.

“This is by far the worst case of adult abuse and neglect I have seen during my entire law enforcement career,” Sheriff Anthony Dennis commented, according to WIS-TV.

Choice is also facing two counts of unlawful conduct toward a child. Bell said the Department of Social Services (DSS) removed her two children from the Sumter home.

Lamont and Choice were arrested in the hospital parking lot. Authorities said charges could be upgraded if their mother dies.

[Featured Image: Sumter County Sheriff’s Department]