4 Charged In Deadly Bucks Co. Neglect Case Appear In Court

Four Bucks County residents who authorities say neglected their 84-year-old relative to the point of starvation and septic shock are headed to trial on neglect charges.

During a preliminary hearing Thursday, Albert W. Weaver Jr, Virginia L. Weaver, Amanda Marie Weaver, and Anthony James Dorney, were held for trail in the deadly neglect case. Authorities allege Albert Weaver Sr. died after being severely neglected by his son, daughter-in-law, granddaughter and granddaughter’s boyfriend.

Police allege that the four received free lodging at the victim's Richland Township property in return for caring for him. Additionally, authorities said most of his pension and Social Security income went toward their living and personal expenses.

The charges say the defendants severely neglected their caregiver responsibilities, allowing Weaver to starve and suffer in a dirty, cluttered home, and seeking no medical care for his deep, infected bed sores.

According to authorities with the Bucks County District Attorney's office, a paramedic who helped transport Weaver to St. Luke’s Hospital in Quakertown on Nov. 10, 2016 said she found him lying on a bathroom floor in a dimly-lit mobile home, naked and curled up beneath a blanket.

“He looked scared,” the paramedic said. “He kept pulling the blanket up over his eyes” and mumbled unintelligibly.

“I was able to see every rib,” she said. “He had bruises all over his arm” and an ulcer on his right hip, and was dehydrated and suffering from hypothermia. “He was like a skeleton who had a sheet pulled over his bones."

According to a nurse, after Weaver was stabilized, he told the hospital staff they were "his angels."
He told them "he was stuck in a dark room" and "no one ever talked to him.”

Even though Weaver gained 18 pounds over 12 days at the hospital, he died on Nov. 22. Weaver’s death was the result of his having been neglected, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

Charged with neglect of a care-dependent person and recklessly endangering another person are Weaver Jr., 52; his wife, Virginia L. Weaver, 49; their daughter, Amanda Weaver, 26; and Dorney, 33.

Neglect of a care-dependent person is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison, while reckless endangerment is a second-degree misdemeanor.

All but Albert Weaver Jr. also are charged with theft by unlawful taking, and Amanda Weaver and Dorney are further charged with conspiracy to commit theft by unlawful taking. The theft-related charges are third-degree felonies, punishable by up to seven years in prison.

All four acknowledged acting as caregivers in various capacities for Albert Weaver Sr.

Virginia Weaver was the primary caregiver and the others assisted, authorities said. In return for acting as caregivers, Weaver offered financial support.

Between 2013 and January 2017, more than $154,000 was deposited into a joint account, mostly from Albert Weaver Sr.’s pension and Social Security payments. By January 2017, there was $523 in the account, Bucks County detectives said. Less than $6,500 was identified as money used for items associated with Albert Weaver Sr. – primarily insurance premium payments and property tax payments.

For three months after Weaver’s death, police allege Virginia Weaver continued to endorse and deposit her father-in-law’s pension checks from AMETEK Inc.

Images via Bucks County District Attorney: from top left Virginia Weaver; Albert Weaver Jr.; Anthony Dorney; Amanda Weaver.