Brother charged with neglect in death of 39-year-old man with cerebral palsy – Palladium-Item

Wayne County Courthouse(Photo: File)

RICHMOND, Ind. A brother has been charged with a serious felony in the August death of a malnourished 39-year-old Richmond man with cerebral palsy.

Henry Lee Andrus III, 34, of the 800 block of North West Fifth Street faces a Level 1 felony charge of neglect of a dependent leading to death and a Level 5 felony charge of neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office formally filed the charges, and Superior Court 1 Judge Charles Todd Jr. found probable cause for them exists.

Todd ordered an arrest warrant for Andrus and set bond at $15,000 with 10 percent cash authorized.

A Level 1 felony is the most serious of the six felony levels established by the Indiana legislature. The standard sentence for a Level 1 felony conviction is 30 years with a sentencing range of 20 to 40 years. A Level 5 felony conviction carries a three-year standard sentence and a range of one to six years.

Richmond Police Department began an investigation Aug. 13 when Adam Schneider was taken to Reid Health, according to an affidavit of probable cause. His brother, who had been his guardian since 2015 when their mother died, called for an ambulance when Schneider became unresponsive in his wheelchair inside the mobile home where they lived.

Andrus told investigators that he had helped Schneider shower, put him in his wheelchair and gave him a nutrition drink prior to Schneider becoming unresponsive, the affidavit said.

Doctors at Reid diagnosed Schneider, who weighed 73 pounds, as severely malnourished and with cachexia, which is explained as the wasting of the body due to chronic neglect, according to the affidavit. Schneider also had bed sores, which are the basis of the Level 5 neglect charge.

Schneider died after two days in Reid's intensive care unit, the affidavit said.

Andrus told investigators that Schneider had been examined at St. Vincent Medical Group in Winchester and found to be thin. Medication had been prescribed and Andrus was told to provide 24-hour care to Schneider, according to the affidavit.

The Connections and Help at Home agencies helped Andrus receive payment for providing Schneider 24-hour care, the affidavit said. Andrus said Schneider had recently developed the bed sores and the brother was treating them. He also said he provided Schneider with nutrition drinks because Schneider would not eat.

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Brother charged with neglect in death of 39-year-old man with cerebral palsy - Palladium-Item