A woman, Misty McDaniel, aged 42, has been accused of neglecting her elderly father to the point where his spine was visible through his skin due to severe ulcerations. Court documents claim that McDaniel caused serious bodily harm to her father through aggravated neglect, leading to pressure ulcerations and untreated bed sores that protruded his vertebrae after he became bedridden following a stroke ten years ago.
McDaniel was arrested in Knox County, Tennessee, after her father was hospitalized with dangerously high blood sugar levels that could have resulted in a diabetic coma. Medical assessments on January 2 revealed that her father’s blood sugar level exceeded 600, posing a significant risk of Diabetic hyperosmolar syndrome, a potentially fatal condition.
Allegedly, McDaniel had been neglecting her father for about six months as his health deteriorated. During the hospital evaluation, nurses noted pressure ulcers and bed sores on his lower back and other areas. Her father, who remains unnamed, was admitted to a critical care unit where he underwent multiple surgeries to address necrotic tissue in his wounds and received various treatments.
According to reports, McDaniel and her husband, who were the primary caregivers, failed to seek medical attention for her father despite his deteriorating health. Upon arrival at the hospital, it was discovered that her father was not maintaining his diabetes medication regimen, resulting in exposed muscles and bones, including three vertebrae.
McDaniel was taken into custody at her residence where she lived with her husband and father. Authorities found a supply of blood sugar medication that had not been administered to her father. She was charged with aggravated neglect of an elderly or vulnerable adult causing serious bodily harm on January 17.
