According to investigators, a California lady killed a 59-year-old man with cerebral palsy she was supposed to care for before attempting to conceal his death.
The victim, Richard McClintic, was reported missing from his apartment in the 2000 block of San Juan Road on October 25 after family members were unable to contact him. Police did a welfare check that day but were unable to locate him.
On November 6, police executed a search warrant at the flat and discovered McClintic deceased inside. Christina Cowens, his 41-year-old caretaker, was arrested and charged with unlawful disposal of human remains, grand theft, and attempting to conceal a death.
Following an autopsy, authorities added homicide and additional fraud-related charges. Cops have not publicly declared the cause of death or a possible motive.
Brandon Klagenberg, McClintic’s nephew, told local NBC station KCRA that they used to speak with him on a regular basis, but that has changed after his sister died. They couldn’t reach him, and then they started receiving messages from his Facebook account that didn’t sound like him, Klagenberg said.
Concerned, the family went to his apartment, but Cowens answered the door and refused to let them in.
That’s when the family notified the police, who began an investigation as a missing persons case before discovering his death. Cowens, according to Klagenberg, has spent years caring for his uncle, who has minimal control over his right side of the body. However, family members became suspicious of her when she refused to let them see him, leading them to believe she may have abused him.
“This is exactly what we expected all along,” he told KCRA.
McClintic enjoyed sports, particularly the Pittsburgh Steelers, and was quite self-sufficient despite the fact that he required assistance to go around, according to his nephew, who spoke with local ABC affiliate KXTV.
“This is the will of somebody who is extremely resilient and overcome his conditions in life, and didn’t let that bring his entire world down,” Klagenberg told the audience.
Now the family is trying to figure out why someone would hurt their loved one.
“To know that someone is capable of doing this to a disabled person in my uncle’s condition is just outrageous,” says Klagenberg.
Cowens is scheduled to return to court on November 24.
