COLUMBUS, Ind. – Details were released Tuesday afternoon on the sentencing last week of a Bartholomew County woman who pleaded guilty in October 2021 to the felony charge of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury. Teresa Wade, 57, of Hope, received five years at the Indiana Department of Corrections and then another two years of probation once released.
The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office began investigating the case in December 2018 when William Ward, 67, of Columbus, was brought to Columbus Regional Health in very serious condition. He was extremely malnourished and had suffered bed sores which resulted in infections. He died a short time later.
A judge had appointed Wade the caretaker of the victim, who had originally suffered a stroke. The investigation determined that Wade neglected Ward by not taking him to medical appointments, not filling or administering medications, and not feeding him properly.
Wade also admitted that she took advantage of the fact that she was the payee of the victim’s disability payments each month.