Boyfriend to be charged in case of girlfriend who was stuck to toilet for 2 years

[Ireneparalegal]

Boyfriend Charged in Stuck-to-Toilet Case
AP
Posted: 2008-03-20 10:51:38

See pics here: http://news.aol.com/story/_a/boyfrie...20074609990001

NESS CITY, Kan. (May 19) - A man whose girlfriend authorities say spent nearly two years in a bathroom in their house, sitting on the toilet so long that the seat adhered her body, has been charged with mistreatment of a dependent adult.

A Kansas man whose girlfriend authorities say spent nearly two years in a bathroom was charged Monday with mistreatment of a dependent adult. "This was a very unusual set of circumstances, and this is the law that most closely applied to the situation," the prosecutor said.

Kory McFarren, 36, was charged Monday in Ness County District Court.

McFarren called the Ness County Sheriff's Office in late February to say something was wrong with his girlfriend. When authorities arrived at the home, they found Pam Babcock, 35, stuck to the toilet, which they think she had sat on for about a month.

McFarren told authorities that Babcock feared leaving the bathroom and may not have left it in two years, although said he was unsure how long she was in there. He said that he took her food and water daily, and that he repeatedly asked her to come out but that she usually replied "maybe tomorrow."

"The only thing I am guilty of is I didn't get her help sooner," McFarren told The Associated Press nearly a week ago.

Ness County Attorney Craig Crosswhite said the mistreatment charge most closely fit the situation.

"I looked at the statutes and spoke to the attorney general's office," he said. "This was a very unusual set of circumstances, and this is the law that most closely applied to the situation."

Authorities said Babcock sat on the toilet so long that open sores developed and caused her to become attached to the seat. Sheriff Bryan Whipple has said that he used a pry bar to remove the seat from the toilet, and that the woman was taken to the hospital with the seat still attached.

"She would have to be sleeping on the toilet," Whipple said.

Doctors at a Wichita hospital where Babcock was taken told McFarren that an infection in her legs had damaged her nerves and could leave her in a wheelchair. She was still at the hospital Wednesday night.

McFarren's first court appearance will be in April, Crosswhite said.

[Polniaczek033]

Um, how is it his fault?
This is the funniest case I've ever heard.

[TJL]

Yeah, part of me thinks this whole mess wasn't his fault, but he probably should have gotten the girl some kind of help right when he figured that she wasn't going to come out of there.

Of course, women spend so much time in the bathroom getting ready for a date, it's so hard for us guys to tell!

Am I right ladies?

Thank you! I'm here all week!

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by TJL

Yeah, part of me thinks this whole mess wasn't his fault, but he probably should have gotten the girl some kind of help right when he figured that she wasn't going to come out of there.

Of course, women spend so much time in the bathroom getting ready for a date, it's so hard for us guys to tell!

Am I right ladies?

Thank you! I'm here all week!

Yeah, in a way I see your point TJL, however it is men who SIT ALL DAY ON THE TOILET SEAT, women use the shower and the sink.


If I can be serious for a moment, the woman was obviously NOT ALL THERE, therefore, someone should have been responsible for her health and well-being. If a child had been stuck to the toilet and as long as the child wasn't complaining, would that be alright too?

[Dean Winchester]

how is it his fault? she's the one who kept saying "not today". Anyways, what's to charge?

[Ireneparalegal]

This is the charge John:

mistreatment of a dependent adult

[BarneyFife]

Looks to me like she wanted to be there, otherwise she would of got her big butt up. I just can't see them charging him. Did he tie her down or something?
This world gets crazier everyday.

[dawsongirl]

Originally Posted by Lee

I think they are taking this case a little bit too far

I agree. I don't see how she was a "dependent adult." I think she needs mental help, but she's not dependent.

[Max Whittaker]

They can charge him but they can't press charges in the Megan Meier case.


Something is not quite right here...

[qwerty]

What the press and media are nto realeasing to people is that the boyfreind was also mentally ill. He had extreme psychosis and can not be held accountable for this. He did call to the 911 several times during this ordeal and they would not respond becasue it was not a life threatening situatyion. It was not until he actually went and forced soemone to come and see for them self that they decided to help these people. This is a travisty of justice. This man was mentally ill just like his girlfriend.

Someone responded to this article with this comment. Don't know if it is true but if it is he should not have any problem getting out of the charge. Even if he is sane I don't think he should be held responsible unless he were her legal guardian. It is different for a child because parents by law are required to care for their children. Bringing a charge against him is almost as weird as charging the neighbors who had a feeling there was a problem but did nothing to help. They say it can take a village to raise a child and sometimes it can take a village to help people with mental illness. It doesn't seem fair to pin all the blame on one person.

[OH Nuts!]

sounds like he's going to get canned for not being johnny on the spot with help. Maybe a good lawyer will help flush his legal troubles away. Yuk Yuk Yuk


Seriously though, neither one is all there - this is one weird situation!

[junecleaver]

Originally Posted by Max Whittaker

They can charge him but they can't press charges in the Megan Meier case.


Something is not quite right here...

Thats what i'm thinking, here we have all these lingering serious cases and they are pressing charges on this guy. What next, will he recieve the death penalty? I dont care if he wasnt mentally ill, he was just following what his girlfriend was telling him and he may have been scared that they may put her away in a mental institution. However, i believe someone who could let this go on for 2 years is probably mentally ill to some extent. Bottom line, i think they need to leave these people alone. Let them live their life.

[Hollow]

if she was "dependent", i assume she was either too physically or mentally challenged to get up, but the article really fails to clarify that.

[Stormtracker TF]

Originally Posted by Max Whittaker

They can charge him but they can't press charges in the Megan Meier case.


Something is not quite right here...

Really does make you wonder.

Yet at the same time, I can't even imagine someone letting this happen to a loved one for a week, much less two years...But it wasn't his fault she did something so insane. I don't think anyone should be charged.

[80sTrivia]

I was reading about this on another web site... so very bizarre...