Woman found with maggots in her sores, sources say

The Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office is investigating an apparent case of neglect where an elderly woman was found sitting in her waste and maggots feeding on her open wounds, sources said.

Unified Fire Authority crews were called to a house near 3800 South and 7400 West just before 5:30 p.m. Tuesday on a call of a 72-year-old female having a stroke.

When they arrived, they realized they needed the sheriff's office.

UFA Capt. Michael Jensen said he could not discuss what crews found when they entered the house, pending an investigation. He would confirm only that his crews were forced to wear masks and gowns while attending to the call.

Reliable sources who wished to remain anonymous told the Deseret Morning News that fire crews immediately noticed a foul smell inside the house. They then found the elderly woman living in deplorable conditions.

The woman was sitting in her own urine and fecal matter, which appeared to be several weeks old, according to sources. She also had open wounds with maggots coming out of them. There was fluid coming from one of her legs from an infection and rotting flesh on her feet, according to the sources.

The woman was transported to University Hospital, said Salt Lake County Sheriff's Sgt. Rosie Rivera. An update on her condition was not known Friday because of federal privacy rules.

A source told the News the woman had to have one of her legs amputated.

As of Friday no one had been arrested. Rivera could only confirm that detectives were called by fire crews to check out a complaint of an elderly female being neglected. When they arrived, the conditions were "so extreme" that Adult Protective Services, the health department and Child Protective Services were called, she said.

The elderly woman had been living at the house since January 2004. Prior to that she had been in and out of different convalescent homes for the past four years, Rivera said.

The woman was currently living with her daughter. It was not immediately clear who made the call for fire crews.

Adult Protective Services director Ron Stromberg added the woman was found sitting in a chair in her basement in "pretty bad condition."

He said his office would send someone to the hospital in the coming days to start interviewing people and find out what happened.

"Our understanding is she's in the hospital and safe at this point," he said.

The Division of Child and Family Services also responded to the house for "environmental neglect," said spokeswoman Carol Sisco. Four young children — three boys and a girl — were removed from the house.

At last word, the children were staying with neighbors, Sisco said.

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E-mail: preavy@desnews.com