Haverford Woman Let 83-Year-Old Mother Die Through Neglect: DA

HAVERFORD, PA — A Haverford Township woman is facing manslaughter and related charges after allegedly neglecting her mother to the point where she died, according to Delaware County authorities.

Ellyn Beth Gottlieb, 58, of Haverford Township, has been charged with felony aggravated assault, felony involuntary manslaughter, neglect of care of a dependent person, felony theft by unlawful taking, and felony theft by deception.

The neglect resulted in the death of her 83-year-old mother, the Delaware County District Attorney's office said.

According to the District Attorney Katayoun Copeland, the mother died in March 2018 and the charges were filed June 3, 2019.

Gottlieb was arrested Tuesday morning, the DA's office said

The charges were filed at the conclusion of an investigation by the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office Criminal Investigation Division (CID) Senior Exploitation Unit and the Haverford Township Police Department.

The situation began in January 2018 when County of Delaware Services for the Aging (COSA) officials went to Gottlieb and her mother's home on the 200 block of David Drive in Havertown to check on the victim, the DA's office said.

Gottlieb allegedly did not let COSA into the home, but Haverford Township Police convinced her to do so. Inside, authorities found poor living conditions, such as water leaks, hoarding, and smells of urine, according to the DA's office.

A week later, police and medics were called back to the home when the mother fell and while en route to Bryn Mawr Hospital authorities found numerous sores, ulcers, feces, and more injuries on the victim's body, according to the DA's office.

The victim was treated and moved to Westgate Hill Nursing Facility, the DA's office said.

She later died on March 12, 2018 in the Westgate Hill Nursing Facility. The DA's office said the victim's cause of death was related to bacteria in her blood and probable sepsis due to ulcers and fistula.

Further investigation showed the victim was in the Broomall Manor Nursing Home where she was "thriving" while undergoing physical and occupational therapy, the DA's office said.

However, Gottlieb removed her mother from the facility after she was faced with more than $22,000 in back payments to the facility, according to the DA's office. Authorities allege the funds Gottlieb stole from her mother could have been used to pay for the outstanding balance at the facility.

Gottlieb, authorities said, had power of attorney over her mother, who was diagnosed with dementia.

Copeland said Gottlieb did "less than a stranger" would do to care for her mother and accused Gottlieb of draining her mother's bank accounts.

Copeland said Gottlieb spent all of her mother's $88,695 in savings on purchases at QVC and online bidding websites and was taking her mother's monthly pension and social security checks.

Authorities allege Gottlieb did not follow through with any recommended care plans for the victim.

Gottlieb was arraigned Tuesday afternoon and held on $250,000 bail. Her preliminary hearing is slated for June 13, court records show.