A West Virginia woman is facing a felony neglect charge after authorities alleged she left her seriously ill husband sitting on a toilet for roughly 19 hours without food, water or medication — an ordeal investigators say contributed to his death.
Margaret Rog, 75, of Morgantown, was arrested Tuesday and charged with abuse or neglect of an incapacitated adult in connection with the death of her 76-year-old husband.
According to court records cited by local station WDTV, the man had been diagnosed with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, legal blindness and several other medical conditions that left him dependent on others for care.
Authorities say the incident began around 3 p.m. on Aug. 20.
Investigators allege Rog’s husband went to the bathroom and was unable to stand afterward. Rog allegedly tried to help him up but could not.
Instead of calling 911, another relative or a medical provider for assistance, deputies say she left him sitting on the toilet.
He allegedly remained there until about 10 a.m. the following morning.
That means he was left in the bathroom for approximately 19 hours.
Court documents allege the man was not given food, water or his prescribed medications during that period.
Investigators also claim Rog heard him groaning in pain but still did not seek emergency assistance and eventually went to bed while he remained in the bathroom.
The situation was finally discovered the next morning when a speech therapist arrived at the couple’s home for a scheduled in-home appointment.
The therapist reportedly found the man unresponsive and in dangerously poor condition and immediately called for an ambulance.
He was rushed to a hospital, where doctors documented a long list of serious medical problems.
According to court records, those conditions included heart failure, respiratory failure, a pulmonary embolism, sepsis, dangerously elevated sodium levels, altered mental status and rhabdomyolysis.
Doctors also found wounds on his backside.
Rhabdomyolysis is a potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when damaged muscle tissue breaks down and releases proteins and electrolytes into the bloodstream.
It can be triggered by prolonged immobility or pressure on muscles, among other causes.
The man remained hospitalized for 11 days.
He died Aug. 31.
Investigators later concluded that his condition and injuries connected to the bathroom incident were “significant contributing factors” in his death, according to court documents.
Authorities have not publicly identified the victim by name in the reports reviewed.
The investigation appears to have begun after concerns were reported to Adult Protective Services and law enforcement while the man was being treated at Ruby Memorial Hospital.
Deputies with the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department then investigated what happened inside the couple’s residence at Orchard Crossing Apartments.
Court documents also allege Rog made statements to law enforcement, Adult Protective Services and family members that investigators considered incriminating.
Authorities claim those statements showed she understood that her husband needed assistance but deliberately chose not to provide it.
Those allegations have not yet been proven in court.
Rog has pleaded not guilty.
She was initially being held at North Central Regional Jail with bond set at $75,000, though Fox News later reported that she posted bond following her court appearance.
She currently faces a charge of abuse or neglect of an incapacitated adult.
No additional homicide charge has been publicly announced.
The case is likely to focus heavily on whether prosecutors can prove that Rog knowingly failed to provide necessary care and whether that alleged neglect legally contributed to her husband’s death.
For now, the most serious allegation remains that a medically vulnerable man was left without help for nearly an entire day — and died less than two weeks later after doctors treated him for multiple critical conditions.
