A man was charged with neglect after an elderly Leesburg woman was rescued from a filthy house.
Neighbors of the elderly woman had not seen her outside in several weeks. They contacted the Lake County Sheriff’s Office which dispatched a deputy on Friday for a welfare check. When no one answered the door, Lake County Fire Rescue was summoned to get into the house in the 200 block of Highland Drive. A neighbor was able to contact 56-year-old Andrew O’Neil, who had been taking care of the woman and who lives with her at the residence. He allowed the deputies into the house.
The deputies found the house to be in disarray, according to the arrest report. Animal feces were present throughout the house as was the smell of urine.
The elderly woman was found lying on the floor of a bedroom. She was covered with a blanket that was soiled with urine and feces. The woman appeared to be alert, but could not lift herself from the floor. The report noted that a chicken breast and pizza box were located near her. She had bruises on her head and sores on her body, including a sore on her lower buttocks which appeared to be eating away at her flesh. Two small flea-infested dogs were found in the residence and were turned over to Lake County Animal Control.
Deputies arrested O’Neil who was charged with the third degree felony of neglect of an elderly person. He was booked at the Lake County Jail. Bond was set at $2,000 which was posted that day. The arrest report did not reveal the relationship between the parties nor did it provide the woman’s age.
