Police: Obese Warren woman found living in horrible conditions - KMSP-TV

Update 1:50 p.m. 10/17/2012

A 41-year-old Warren woman remains hospitalized in intensive care after she was rescued from her bug-infested home on Tuesday. FOX 2 has learned the roughly 500-pound woman is in serious but stable condition and will remain in ICU for at least the next two days.

The woman, who investigators say had a broken hip and later became bed-ridden was found living in her own waste after her husband called 911.

The case has been turned over to the Macomb County prosecutor's office to determine if charges will be filed.

By Andrea Isom
FOX 2 News Reporter

WARREN, Mich. -- "We saw all the commotion with all the fire department and police here," said Stephen Beirne.

"I thought somebody was killed in there," said Katy Thamert.

No one was dead and there was not a murder, but there was a dangerously obese woman inside an apartment near 12 Mile and Hayes.  Her condition was critical.

"Been here over a year, we've never seen her once," Beirne said.

Police tell us she was bound to a bed and the filth on it and surrounding it was dreadful.  The 41-year-old Warren woman, who may weigh more than 500 pounds, was covered in feces.  Even harder to imagine, there were maggots on her skin.

We're told her husband called 911 early Tuesday because his wife was in distress and needed medical attention right away.  Emergency crews arrived, including a Hazmat team.  What they were dealing with was so alarming, unsafe and deplorable, they had no choice but to remove a sliding glass door to get her out of the home and to a hospital.

"Very, very sad, and if I had knew it, I would've tried as much as I could to do a little bit more if I could for her," said Thamert.  "I didn't know this until now."

"They were having a lot of financial problems.  Occasionally they ran out of food and had to go down to a sister-in-law's house and get some food.  He's told me that he's trying to get some help, but for some reason he's not able to get any," Beirne explained.

Neighbors said the couple was in a car accident a few years ago, which may have played a part in what they're dealing with now.  They cannot help but wonder how things have gotten so bad without them knowing when they're right next door.

"I don't think he did it intentionally.  He could only do so much for his wife.  His children are clean, appear to be well-fed, so he's doing the best he can," said Beirne.

We're told those children are staying with a family member. They are ages 13, 11 and the two youngest are two-year-old twins.