We are hearing from those who live near the home where police arrested a man after the death of his blind, adopted daughter. Police say a 29-year-0ld woman was found dead in the home on Concord St. in Lowell. Authorities say she was malnourished with cockroach bites on her head, as well as a scrape on her forehead. Her 73-year-old adoptive father is now charged in her death. "I mean to me, it sounds like a really sad story on both sides to be honest," Anthony Erby said. "You know, there's a few aspects of it," Kyle Fairfax said. "One, you never know what's going on in any of the other houses that are on your street. Another is you don't know what everybody else is going through. You know, I feel so sorry for everybody in this situation." According to a probable cause report, 73-year-old David Whitten adopted six adults with disabilities, including the 29-year-old woman who died. She was diagnosed with Fraser syndrome, a rare genetic disorder. Investigators say Whitten's wife, a nurse, was helping him care for the six adults until she died. Court records show his adopted daughter would go through periods where she wouldn't eat well, but he would give her double calorie and double protein boosts, which usually helped. The probable cause report shows Whitten telling police he wished he had called for help sooner before his adopted daughter stopped breathing. "As citizens, we don't put enough a whole lot of emphasis on social welfare and making sure we are looking out for people who are in vulnerable positions and looking out for people who are trying their best to care for people in those vulnerable positions," Fairfax said.Potentially preventing situations like this in the future. "And I can only imagine how that guy probably feels, losing his adopted child," Erby said. "You know, sometimes we all bite off more than we can chew," Fairfax said. "And if you're not ready to ask for help, then things can get out of control. Out of hand really fast."Police say things were so out of hand in the house that there were dirty diapers scattered about and cockroaches crawling everywhere. The five other adopted adults with disabilities were taken to the hospital to be checked out and are staying elsewhere. David Whitten is due in court on Feb. 10 to face charges of negligent homicide and six counts of endangering the welfare of an incompetent person.
We are hearing from those who live near the home where police arrested a man after the death of his blind, adopted daughter.
Police say a 29-year-0ld woman was found dead in the home on Concord St. in Lowell. Authorities say she was malnourished with cockroach bites on her head, as well as a scrape on her forehead. Her 73-year-old adoptive father is now charged in her death.
"I mean to me, it sounds like a really sad story on both sides to be honest," Anthony Erby said.
"You know, there's a few aspects of it," Kyle Fairfax said. "One, you never know what's going on in any of the other houses that are on your street. Another is you don't know what everybody else is going through. You know, I feel so sorry for everybody in this situation."
According to a probable cause report, 73-year-old David Whitten adopted six adults with disabilities, including the 29-year-old woman who died. She was diagnosed with Fraser syndrome, a rare genetic disorder.
Investigators say Whitten's wife, a nurse, was helping him care for the six adults until she died. Court records show his adopted daughter would go through periods where she wouldn't eat well, but he would give her double calorie and double protein boosts, which usually helped. The probable cause report shows Whitten telling police he wished he had called for help sooner before his adopted daughter stopped breathing.
"As citizens, we don't put enough a whole lot of emphasis on social welfare and making sure we are looking out for people who are in vulnerable positions and looking out for people who are trying their best to care for people in those vulnerable positions," Fairfax said.
Potentially preventing situations like this in the future.
"And I can only imagine how that guy probably feels, losing his adopted child," Erby said.
"You know, sometimes we all bite off more than we can chew," Fairfax said. "And if you're not ready to ask for help, then things can get out of control. Out of hand really fast."
Police say things were so out of hand in the house that there were dirty diapers scattered about and cockroaches crawling everywhere. The five other adopted adults with disabilities were taken to the hospital to be checked out and are staying elsewhere.
David Whitten is due in court on Feb. 10 to face charges of negligent homicide and six counts of endangering the welfare of an incompetent person.