An Indiana woman has been arrested after investigators determined that her 93-year-old mother died from complications of severe, untreated pressure sores while living in a home filled with trash, rotting food and clutter.
Sandra Antolick, 62, of Valparaiso, is accused of failing to provide necessary medical care for her elderly mother, JoAnne Antolick, despite serving as her sole caregiver for several years.
The case began in September 2025, when police responded to the family’s home in the 100 block of North Morgan Boulevard after Sandra reported that her mother had died.
What officers discovered inside the residence prompted an investigation that eventually led to criminal charges more than a year later.
According to a probable cause affidavit, police entered the home around 1:40 p.m. and immediately noticed an overwhelming odor caused by spoiled food, trash and mildew.
Investigators found JoAnne dead in a recliner in the living room, where her daughter said she had been sleeping because she could no longer walk.
Much of the house was filled with clutter, with some piles reportedly reaching five feet high. The accumulation of belongings blocked access to bedrooms and the second floor.
Authorities also discovered that the residence had no running water and that the refrigerator was broken and contained spoiled food.
Sandra told investigators that she and her mother had recently moved back into the house after being evicted from a nearby apartment.
She explained that she slept on the living room floor while her mother remained in the recliner.
However, investigators became increasingly concerned about the elderly woman’s medical condition.
According to court documents, an autopsy revealed numerous severe pressure sores, also known as bedsores, across JoAnne’s body.
The injuries were in advanced stages, and medical professionals determined that they would have caused substantial pain.
A forensic pathologist concluded that JoAnne died from complications of extensive wounds that had become infected.
Pressure sores can develop when someone remains in the same position for extended periods without adequate movement or care. They are particularly dangerous for older adults and people with limited mobility because untreated wounds can lead to serious infections.
Sandra reportedly told police that her mother had not visited a doctor in five or six years, even as her health deteriorated.
She said JoAnne had difficulty moving following a recent fall and required assistance with basic daily activities.
Although Sandra claimed she regularly changed her mother’s wound dressings, investigators alleged that the severity of the injuries showed she needed professional medical treatment long before her death.
Police also questioned Sandra’s account of the hours leading up to her mother’s death.
According to the affidavit, Sandra initially told investigators that JoAnne had become unresponsive around 11:30 a.m. after vomiting.
Rather than immediately calling emergency services, she allegedly contacted a funeral home approximately two hours later. The funeral home instructed her to call 911.
Investigators subsequently examined Sandra’s phone records and interviewed people she had contacted earlier that morning.
One co-worker told detectives that Sandra had attempted to reach her around 3 a.m. and later spoke with her at approximately 8:30 a.m.
During that conversation, Sandra allegedly said her mother had already died and expressed concern about what would happen next.
The co-worker also claimed Sandra asked others to say JoAnne had died later that morning, a statement investigators considered significant because it conflicted with her original timeline.
Authorities further noted that Sandra had worked as a radiologic technologist at a local hospital for more than 25 years.
Prosecutors allege that her professional medical experience should have helped her recognize the seriousness of her mother’s condition and the need for medical attention.
Following the investigation, Sandra was arrested Friday, October 16, 2026, and booked into the Porter County Jail.
She faces two felony counts of neglect of a dependent, including a Level 3 felony involving neglect resulting in death and a Level 5 felony. Court records also list a misdemeanor charge of resisting law enforcement.
Under Indiana law, a Level 3 felony carries a potential prison sentence of three to 16 years, while a Level 5 felony carries a possible sentence of one to six years. Any punishment would depend on the outcome of the case and the court’s sentencing decisions.
Sandra was initially held on an $11,000 bond. A date for her first court hearing had not been publicly confirmed in the initial reports.
The case highlights the serious risks faced by older adults who depend on others for medical care, particularly when limited mobility leaves them unable to seek help independently.
Investigators believe JoAnne’s condition worsened over an extended period without adequate medical intervention, ultimately resulting in the infection that caused her death.
