Daniel Bethencourt

Detroit Free Press

A man from Monroe County has been charged with involuntary manslaughter after his wife was taken to a hospital with an “abdomen that was filled with live maggots,” State Police said.

“This is a very unusual case,” said First Lt. Tony Cuevas. “It’s a very sad case. It shows you do have a duty to provide basic care to your loved ones.”

The situation first came to the attention of authorities in June, when Robert G. Shelton, 67, of Carleton had his unconscious wife taken to an emergency room. Shelton’s wife weighed about 550 pounds and suffered some health issues, such as diabetes, Cuevas said.

When the 61-year-old woman arrived, hospital staff made a disturbing discovery: She was covered in urine and feces, her skin was damaged from extreme neglect and there were live maggots in a “very large abscess” on her abdomen, according to Cuevas.

The woman died from complications due to the abscess, and her death was ruled a homicide by the Wayne County Medical Examiner. The cause of death was “gross neglect.”

Shelton had been responsible for her for the last five years, but failed to take care of her for the month leading up to the woman’s death, police said. He was taken into custody without any incidents, at a friend’s home in the Carleton Mobile Home Park.

Shelton was arraigned Monday. His bond was listed at $25,000 — which he was unable to post. He remains in jail until his next court date, which police have not yet announced.

Contact Daniel Bethencourt: 313-223-4531, dbethencourt@freepress.com or on Twitter @_dbethencourt