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.<\/p>\n
Susan Edwards, 69, was arraigned Wednesday on two counts of neglect of a care-dependent person, both felonies, in her care of Shelley Youngkin.<\/p>\n
Investigators with the state Attorney General\u2019s Office said Edwards, who was Youngkin\u2019s caregiver for 20 years, concealed bed sores, canceled appointments and attempted to self-manage Youngkin\u2019s injuries with over-the-counter dressings. Youngkin died from complications from the bed sores, court documents state.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know I completely messed up\u2026. I just wasn\u2019t thinking\u2026. It was the stupidest thing I have ever done, and I can never take it back,\u201d she allegedly told agents from the AG\u2019s office a year after Youngkin\u2019s\u2019 death.<\/p>\n
Youngkin died in October 2023 in her home. She was 52.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s office said. Edwards was in the hospital when Youngkin died, seeking medical care for her own health issues, authorities said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Youngkin\u2019s 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\u2019s issues, health or otherwise. However, they noticed Edwards\u2019 health beginning to decline two years earlier, and Youngkin\u2019s health declined during that period, too, according to court documents.<\/p>\n
They had began to talk with Edwards about moving Youngkin to a new care facility, which was met with resistance from Edwards, authorities said.<\/p>\n
Youngkin was seen by a doctor three months before her death, and no sores were found at that time, officials said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The bandages were purchased about two weeks before Youngkin\u2019s death, meaning she was aware of the wound for at least that long, the AG\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is nothing I can say, I failed her miserably, I failed her family\u2026 and I wish I could take it back, believe me,\u201d she told investigators, according to court documents.<\/p>\n