Pocono News Section

Pottsville Man Accused of Letting Elderly Woman Die

Pottsville Man Accused of Letting Elderly Woman Die - Friday, April 17, 2009 at 5:24PM EST

Reported by: Kyla Campbell
Friday, Apr 17, 2009 @ 05:24pm EST
POTTSVILLE, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY -- Arthur Deiter lived with 69-year-old Joanne Weider for 20 years, but the two have lived alone since August.

The Schuylkill County Senior Services checked on Weider monthly. In February, they found her dehydrated with respiratory failure, and burning skin tissue relative to lying in urine and feces. She died within hours. But doctors say her death could have been prevented.

The Office of Senior Services says this is just the type of situation it tries to prevent.

"It's bringing attention to the abuse and the plight of our senior population," said Carol Schank.

Weider's son would visit her every Sunday, but he tells police the three weeks leading up to his mother's death, Deiter would not let him into the apartment to visit his mother.

He was in court to hear that over a five-week period, Deiter occasionally gave his mother water in an empty soda bottle, a couple cups of Jell-O, and once, he gave her a sandwich. The detective in the case says Deiter's only concern was about how long he'd have to go to jail.

Deiter's arrest is one of the first since the Schuylkill County District Attorney's office started its "Elder Abuse Unit," and they don't anticipate it being the last.

"Anyone out there who sees or suspects any type of elder abuse, whether it be financial, physical, emotional, please contact the Office of Senior Services as soon as possible so we can investigate the allegations," added Schank.

Deiter is free on $50,000 bail. No trial date has been set.