An Ocala grandmother found lying in a pool of her own bodily fluids and feces was allegedly neglected for three months by her grandson before she went into septic shock and died.
On January 8, 2024, the Ocala Police Department was notified by Marion County Fire Rescue that a 66-year-old female victim, identified as Maria Sutherlin, was transported from her apartment to a local hospital. According to the arrest report, the victim’s apartment was “filthy” when paramedics arrived, and it smelled of “urine” and “infection.”
Paramedics observed “a buildup of feces, dried sweat and dried blood along both of (the victim’s) arms and neck area.” The victim also had severe bed sores and bruising around her legs, lower back, and buttocks, according to the report.
The paramedics determined that the victim was experiencing septic shock, and they rushed her to the hospital. The victim’s grandson, identified as Daquanya Chadnon Wilkerson, stated that he was the victim’s caregiver.
Wilkerson, 26, told law enforcement that he lived with the victim, paid her bills, had access to her bank accounts, and was asked to get power of attorney over her. The report stated that it was later discovered that Wilkerson did not have power of attorney over the victim.
After the victim was hospitalized, nursing staff observed an infected bedsore on her back that was “so deep it exposed a portion of her spine,” and the wound was covered in dried feces. According to the report, the victim was also “extremely dehydrated.”
An investigation by OPD revealed that the victim had been hospitalized in July of 2023 after suffering a stroke. When the victim eventually returned home in early October of 2023, hospital staff observed that the victim had no injuries and was “100% alert.” Wilkerson signed the victim’s discharge paperwork, and he was appointed as the victim’s healthcare surrogate, according to the report.
OPD stated that the victim proceeded to miss two medical appointments in the weeks after her release from the hospital. The victim remained in the living room of her apartment from the date of her release through January 8, 2024. She was in a hospital bed, and the responsibility for caring for her “lied solely on (Wilkerson),” according to the report.
The report stated that the victim’s sheets and mattress were “soaked with bodily fluid and feces, which appeared to be leaking onto the floor.”
On January 9, 2024, the victim’s apartment was searched, and officers were unable to find any medication. Wilkerson went to his vehicle and retrieved several bottles of the victim’s medication, which had been prescribed in October 2023. The report stated that the bottles were still over halfway full.
Two days later, on January 11, 2024, the victim died from her injuries at the hospital.
Investigators spoke with Wilkerson over the phone later that day, and he stated that he had lived with the victim for approximately seven years. He claimed that he would feed the victim in the morning, and he added that sometimes visitors would feed her, according to the report.
Wilkerson further claimed that he gave the victim water “all the time,” along with other “liquids and stuff like Pedialyte and Ensure.” The report stated that during the interview, Wilkerson admitted to investigators that he only purchased a single bottle of Ensure, and the bottle of Pedialyte was “leftover from (a relative’s) baby.”
When asked who would care for the victim while Wilkerson was at work, he was unable to give a consistent answer, according to the report.
In the report, an officer noted that Wilkerson had access to the victim’s bank accounts. Starting in early October 2023, the account was accessed “on a frequent basis” to purchase food and to make ATM withdrawals. These transactions were deemed “irregular” compared to the activity on the account prior to the victim suffering a stroke.
After conducting an investigation, OPD determined that there was “sufficient probable cause” to charge Wilkerson in connection with the victim’s death.
Wilkerson was arrested on April 27, 2024 and transported to Marion County Jail, where he is currently being held without bond. He is being charged with aggravated negligent manslaughter of an elderly person.
Wilkerson has entered a written plea of “not guilty.” His arraignment is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 28, according to Marion County court records.