A 67-year-old man from Walnut Ridge has been arrested after authorities say his wife was found in severe neglect and later died.
According to a probable-cause affidavit, Randolph S. McKenzie is being held on a $10,000 cash or surety bond after a judge found probable cause to charge him with neglect of a vulnerable person, a Class D felony.
On January 15, a Medic One ambulance responded to a report of a woman having a seizure at an apartment in the 900 block of Free Street in Walnut Ridge.
Paramedics contacted police after discovering the 72-year-old victim lying on a cold concrete floor in extreme unsanitary conditions. Investigators say the victim was covered in feces, urine, maggots, fleas, and cat litter.
The victim was transported to a hospital in Jonesboro and later transferred to a long-term care facility, where she died 7 days later.
Court documents state McKenzie told paramedics the victim had been on the floor for 2 to 3 days before calling for help. When asked why he delayed, he reportedly said he did not want to pay the ambulance fee.
Authorities also report McKenzie admitted to pouring cat litter on the victim in an attempt to mask the odor.
A warrant for McKenzie’s arrest was issued March 25. He was arrested March 26 and booked into the Lawrence County Detention Center.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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