FAYETTE COUNTY, W.Va. –A Fayette County man has been arrested in connection to the death of an incapacitated adult in the Mount Carbon area.
Ryan Curtis Pruett, 28, has been charged with death of an incapacitated adult by caregiver and three counts of child neglect creating risk of injury in the death of his mother.
The investigation initially began on March 17 when deputies who were assigned to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department’s Detective Bureau responded to the Fayette County Medical Examiner regarding the death of a 60-year-old female at CAMC Memorial Hospital.
Deputies were told by the examiner that he suspected neglect had been a contributing factor to the victim’s death.
Prior to the death of the victim, EMS had responded to a residence at 155 Deepmont Subdivision Road following a third-party complaint. EMS transported the victim to Montgomery General Hospital and was later taken to CAMC Memorial Hospital because she needed an advance in medical treatment.
When the victim first arrived at the hospital, medical personnel said the victim was suffering from severe wounds, infection, and overall neglect.
Pruett was identified as her primary caregiver during the investigation. The investigation also revealed that prior concerns had been reported to Adult Protective Services regarding his ability to provide adequate care.
When Pruett was arrested at the residence, deputies discovered multiple individuals living in deplorable conditions. Those individuals include three minor children, an adult with disabilities, and elderly male. CPS was called and took custody of the children.
An investigation is ongoing into the child abuse and neglect.
Detectives also uncovered that Pruett had been providing false information to authorities regarding the care of his mother, who had been left without proper medical attention despite her condition.