Son lived with Texas City woman found in squalid conditions Officials find Texas City resident in squalid conditions at home

Linda Sue Sainz, seen in a photo from five or six years ago, was taken to a hospital after emergency services were called to her home in Texas City. Linda Sue Sainz, seen in a photo from five or six years ago, was taken to a hospital after emergency services were called to her home in Texas City. Photo: Steve Campbell, Chronicle Photo: Steve Campbell, Chronicle Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Son lived with Texas City woman found in squalid conditions 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

With her cats and romance novels to keep her company, retired Galveston County sheriff's Deputy Linda Sue Sainz rarely ventured from her Texas City home. Struggling with health problems, the 62-year-old woman stayed inside for weeks at a time with her son, who had lived with her almost all his life.

Perhaps that is why her plight escaped the notice of neighbors, friends and loved ones, who had no idea that Sainz's lopsided shotgun shack on South Pecan Street had turned into a house of horrors. Late Friday, police found the mother of four lying in a puddle of waste on her living room floor, with maggots infesting open bedsores on her back and buttocks.

Sainz's 38-year-old son and housemate, who called 911 to report his mother's condition, was nowhere to be found. His whereabouts were still unknown Tuesday.

The son, whose name police declined to release, has not been charged with any wrongdoing. Prosecutors want to review the woman's medical records before pursuing charges.

The bedridden woman remains hospitalized at Mainland Medical Center in Texas City, but police aren't sure she will survive.

"I think this should be a reminder that we should check on our family members or loved ones eye to eye as often as we can," said Texas City Police Capt. Brian Goetschius.

"We believe it's been weeks, if not months, that anyone other than her son visibly saw her."

Records subpoenaed

Police declined to specify Sainz's pre-existing medical problems, noting they are still waiting to receive medical records that were subpoenaed.

Adult Protective Services caseworkers also are investigating.

Sainz's other three children, all living in the Houston or Galveston County areas, had spoken to her by phone, but had not visited her before the grisly discovery, Goetschius said.

Texas law says that a person who has begun caring for a child, elderly individual or disabled person — even informally — cannot abandon that responsibility.

The initial police investigation indicates Sainz's son was her sole provider of food, medical care and shelter, while her retirement income paid their bills, Goetschius said.

The man sounded emotionless when he called 911 at 11:51 p.m. Friday.

"My mom has laid here and gotten in bad shape," the caller told the emergency operator. "She can barely talk ... She needs to get to a hospital."

The caller told police the home would be open, then disconnected the line.

The first officer to arrive smelled a strong odor of feces and saw what he thought was a decomposing body lying in a puddle of body fluids on the living room floor next to a bed. The woman was motionless and appeared to be dead, police reports show.

Then the officer saw the woman blink her eyes. He yelled for paramedics to come inside, Goetschius said.

Family members surprised

Sainz's shocking health conditions came as a surprise to her other children and her landlord.

Her eldest son, Aaron Martelli, 43, of Santa Fe, said he had no idea his mother had become so sick or that she was living in such deplorable conditions. He said he last spoke to her by phone a month ago.

"I have a feeling she was putting up a pretty good front," Martelli said outside his mother's home Tuesday.

Gloria Huddleston, who had leased the home to Sainz and her son for three years, said the pair paid their rent on time.

"I wanted to be sick and I cried when I saw where she had been laying," Huddleston wept Tuesday. "I just can't imagine."

Sainz worked for the Galveston County Sheriff's Office from 1978 until her retirement in 2000. Sheriff's Major Ray Tuttoilmondo recalled her as a feisty and independent woman and a reliable employee.

peggy.ohare@chron.com