An Arizona man has been arrested after authorities say his disabled adult son was left lying in a bathtub for as long as seven weeks in a case prosecutors described as severe neglect.
Melvin Shimkus, 52, was arrested on a charge of vulnerable adult abuse involving his 31-year-old son, Hunter Shimkus, according to the Mesa Police Department and reports from AZ Family, 12 News and Fox 10 TV.
Police were called to the family’s home shortly before 10 p.m. on Monday, June 29, after receiving a report that Hunter had been left in the bathtub for several weeks.
Court documents said Hunter suffers from a nerve disease that prevents him from walking and severely limits the use of his hands.
When officers entered the bathroom, they found an adult man in what police described as extremely poor physical condition. Officers also noticed a powerful odor coming from the room.
Police said one of Hunter’s legs appeared to be bent at a 90-degree angle in the wrong direction.
Officers described Hunter as “extremely emaciated,” with his muscles apparently gone and only skin and bone remaining, according to court documents cited by AZ Family and 12 News.
He also reportedly had oozing sores across his body.
“He clearly suffered from severe, severe neglect,” a prosecutor said during a court hearing, according to the outlets. “The neglect was [so] extreme that it caused significant, possible permanent injuries to the victim.”
Hunter was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Police determined that Melvin had been acting as his son’s caretaker.
During questioning, Melvin reportedly told officers that he had been caring for Hunter for about a year and had placed him in the bathtub roughly one week earlier, according to AZ Family.
He allegedly said that when he checked on Hunter that day, he noticed one of his son’s legs was bent in the opposite direction.
Melvin told investigators that he had repeatedly offered to take Hunter to the hospital, but that his son refused, according to AZ Family, 12 News and Fox 10 TV.
However, another family member living in the home told officers that Hunter had actually been in the bathtub since May 16, the last time authorities had been called to the residence.
She also claimed the family had repeatedly tried to convince Hunter to seek medical treatment, but he continued to refuse help.
“Everything was done that we could do,” Hunter’s aunt, Carol Scofield, told AZ Family. “Everyone tried to convince Hunter to go to the hospital. Hunter said no. When the paramedics came, he said no. They turned around and walked off, said we can’t touch him. He’s an adult.”
Melvin made his first court appearance on Tuesday, June 30. He was booked into jail and was being held on $12,000 bond.
The Mesa Police Department said the case remains under investigation.
