A Pen Argyl woman is charged with neglect in her care of a woman with Down syndrome who died in 2023 from complications from serious bedsores, according to authorities.
Susan Edwards, 69, was arraigned Wednesday on two counts of neglect of a care-dependent person, both felonies, in her care of Shelley Youngkin.
Investigators with the state Attorney General’s Office said Edwards, who was Youngkin’s caregiver for 20 years, concealed bed sores, canceled appointments and attempted to self-manage Youngkin’s injuries with over-the-counter dressings. Youngkin died from complications from the bed sores, court documents state.
“I know I completely messed up…. I just wasn’t thinking…. It was the stupidest thing I have ever done, and I can never take it back,” she allegedly told agents from the AG’s office a year after Youngkin’s’ death.
Youngkin died in October 2023 in her home. She was 52.
Investigators said she lived with Edwards in Pen Argyl through a program akin to foster families for those with intellectual disabilities. Edwards had a contract and was given $2,600 monthly by Access Services to care for Youngkin, including hygiene and taking her for medical visits or out in the community, according to court documents. She also was trained on abuse and neglect of people with intellectual disabilities.
On the day Youngkin was found dead, she had been left in the care of another resident of the home who also had intellectual disabilities, the AG’s office said. Edwards was in the hospital when Youngkin died, seeking medical care for her own health issues, authorities said.
Authorities said Edwards coordinated with neighbors to check in on Youngkin while she was in the hospital overnight. The other resident of the home found Youngkin unresponsive.
Youngkin’s family told authorities that they had a positive experience with Edwards as caregiver for 20 years, and that she was very communicative with them about their loved one’s issues, health or otherwise. However, they noticed Edwards’ health beginning to decline two years earlier, and Youngkin’s health declined during that period, too, according to court documents.
They had began to talk with Edwards about moving Youngkin to a new care facility, which was met with resistance from Edwards, authorities said.
Youngkin was seen by a doctor three months before her death, and no sores were found at that time, officials said.
Edwards, in an interview with agents in November 2024, admitted she saw the sore and thought it was a blister, adding that she believed she could treat it with bandages she purchased on Amazon, court documents state. She said there was no indication that Youngkin was in any sort of pain, according to authorities.
The bandages were purchased about two weeks before Youngkin’s death, meaning she was aware of the wound for at least that long, the AG’s office said. She was trained in limited medical care, and was responsible for taking Youngkin to a medical professional when it went beyond that, according to court documents.
“There is nothing I can say, I failed her miserably, I failed her family… and I wish I could take it back, believe me,” she told investigators, according to court documents.
Youngkin graduated from IU 20, and enjoyed Sesame Street, game shows, playing records and celebrating holidays with her family, according to her obituary.
“Her positive and loving attitude endeared her to many,” her obituary reads. “She was her parents’ pride and joy.”
Edwards remains free on $50,000 unsecured bail. She did not have an attorney listed for her Friday.