PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. — A Pierce County man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for what medical professionals are calling, “one of the worst cases of neglect they have seen.”
Larry Lee, 51, was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of Philip Carter, 59, on Thursday, the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney's Office said.
According to the Attorney’s Office, Lee was Carter’s caregiver in May, 2015. Carter is autistic and mentally disabled.
Carter was admitted to Goodman Hospital after Lee found him unresponsive. Doctors treated Carter for several large and deep bed sores.
One sore was 8 by 13 inches, authorities said.
Before Carter was admitted to the hospital, the sores had been stuffed with paper towels. Carter died within hours of being admitted to the hospital.
Officials said Lee’s failure to treat the sores properly caused Carter’s death.
Lee was on suicide watch in June, 2015. According to court documents, Lee's house in Spanaway was licensed as a care facility to his ex-wife.
When she moved out, Lee lost the license but continued to care for Carter.
The 18-year sentence is in the high-end of the standard range, as requested by prosecutors Erika Nohavec and Bryce Nelson.
This marks the first time a caregiver was tried for murder since the Prosecutor’s Abuse Unit was formed in 2012.
Prosecutor Mark Lindquist said the successful prosecution of caregivers for neglect is rare, but he expects such prosecutions to increase with improved awareness and training.
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