Caregiver arrested after elderly woman found covered in insects and feces

FT. PIERCE, Fla. (WFLA) — A caregiver in Florida was charged after an elderly woman was found severely neglected during a welfare check, the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office said.

Deputies went to the residence on July 18 to perform a welfare check and discovered the woman living in "extremely hazardous and unsanitary conditions."

The woman was only around 90 pounds and had insects crawling in her hair and on her body, deputies said.

While the caregiver appeared clean and well-fed, the elderly woman was found "with visible feces on her person and signs that she had not bathed in an extended period," SLCSO said.

The house itself was in a decrepit condition, lacking running water and with the roof and interior walls collapsing. It was also infested with insects and cats.

The caregiver, 56-year-old Melanie Hess, was charged with neglect of an elderly, disabled adult and taken to the St. Lucie County Jail.

The elderly victim was transported to a local hospital for medical evaluation.