West Virginia woman charged with neglect in husband's death

<p>A West Virginia woman is accused of leaving her frail and ailing husband on the toilet for 19 hours, an act investigators say contributed to his death.</p><p>Margaret Rog, 75, was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the death of her 76-year-old husband. She was charged with abuse or neglect of an incapacitated adult.</p><p>Authorities allege Rog had left her husband, who suffers from dementia, Alzheimer’s, and legal blindness, on the toilet overnight last month, leading to serious health conditions that contributed to his death, according to the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office.</p><p>Her husband went to the bathroom at around 3 p.m. on August 20, but when he was finished, Rog was unable to assist him off the toilet.</p><p>According to investigators, instead of calling for help, Rog left her husband unattended and unresponsive for 19 hours without food, water, or his prescribed medications. Deputies allege Rog watched her husband groan in pain but did not call anyone for help and later went to bed while her husband remained stuck on the toilet.</p><p>At around 10 a.m. the following day, a speech therapist arrived for an in-home visit and found the man unresponsive and in dangerously poor condition. The speech therapist then called an ambulance, and the man was rushed to the hospital.</p><p>He was diagnosed with several conditions, including heart failure, respiratory failure, pulmonary embolism, hypernatremia, sepsis, and rhabdomyolysis. The man was also found to have wounds on his backside, shortness of breath, and an altered mental status.</p><p>He died in the hospital on August 31. Investigators stated that the elderly man’s condition and injuries linked to being left on the toilet were significant contributing factors to his death.</p><p>Rog allegedly made self-incriminating statements to law enforcement, adult protection services, and family members during the investigation. She reportedly suggested she was aware of her husband’s need for assistance but chose not to offer help.</p><p>She pleaded not guilty in court on Tuesday and posted a $75,000 bond.</p>