West Virginia Woman Arrested After Husband Dies Following 19-Hour Ordeal on Toilet
Authorities charge 75-year-old Margaret Rog with abuse or neglect of an incapacitated adult.
A West Virginia woman, Margaret Rog, 75, has been arrested and charged with abuse or neglect of an incapacitated adult following the death of her 76-year-old husband. Rog is accused of leaving her ailing husband on a toilet for approximately 19 hours, an ordeal that authorities say contributed significantly to his death a week later.
According to the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began on August 20. Rog's husband, who suffers from dementia, Alzheimer's, and legal blindness, reportedly went to the bathroom around 3 p.m. Rog stated she was unable to help him off the toilet. Instead of seeking assistance, she left him unattended for the next 19 hours without providing food, water, or his prescribed medications.
Authorities reported that Rog was aware of her husband's distress, noting that he groaned in pain, but she proceeded to go to bed, leaving him on the toilet. The following morning, around 10 a.m., a speech therapist arrived for an in-home visit. The therapist discovered the husband unresponsive and in critical condition, prompting the call for an ambulance.
Upon arrival at the hospital, the man was diagnosed with multiple severe health issues, including heart failure, respiratory failure, pulmonary embolism, hypernatremia, sepsis, and rhabdomyolysis. Medical records indicated he also had wounds on his backside, shortness of breath, and an altered mental status. He passed away on August 31, ten days after the incident.
Investigators concluded that the elderly man's condition and the injuries sustained from being left on the toilet were substantial contributing factors to his death. Rog allegedly made several statements to law enforcement, adult protection services, and family members that were self-incriminating, suggesting she was aware of her husband's need for assistance and deliberately withheld it.
Rog was arrested on Tuesday and subsequently pleaded not guilty in court. She was released on a $75,000 bond.