Perry Fuller, 58, is charged with several felonies including neglect of a dependent resulting in death, a Level 1 felony, according to Lake Superior records.He posted a $5,000 bond Tuesday. His next court appearance is Feb. 3 before Magistrate Mark Watson.Records show Fuller was a retired Gary firefighter. Authorities alleged he should have known about his mother’s declining health and failed to take her to the doctor for years.
The woman’s eyelids were “dry crusted” shut, had dried vomit around her mouth and dried blood on her hands. The woman was in pajamas, lying on the ground, according to the affidavit.Officers saw “bloody scratch marks” on the wall by her bed and old food, garbage and feces recently swept under the bed, charges state.
Officers called a investigative unit from the Lake County Coroner’s Office. She was pronounced dead at 3:30 a.m. with her body taken for an autopsy.Police later found a 6-foot metal chain linked to the woman’s bed. Fuller claimed to police it was for her if someone broke into the house. Janice had a “fresh” right wrist fracture, and older left wrist fracture. Wang speculated the woman may have been restrained at some point. She was malnourished with “extremely poor personal hygiene” with skin ulcers on her body.