CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Police said Wednesday they believe the dying pleas of a neglected, elderly woman were echoed by her parrot as they combed through her fetid home.
Police Lt. Eric Bonnette said the bird mimicked the plaintive words of 98-year-old Anne Copeland, haunting authorities as they searched the house, which reeked of rotting flesh and animal feces.
“Once we pulled the blanket from over him he would keep saying, ‘Help. Help.’ And then he would laugh,” Bonnette said. They believe the laughter was an imitation of Copeland’s adult daughter, who was charged with abuse and neglect resulting in death of a vulnerable adult.
Bonnette called it the most terrible case of neglect he has seen in 17 years of law enforcement work.
Copeland was found Monday evening covered with bed sores in a house in a community about 50 miles west of Charleston. She died the following day.
“What made it the worst was to see her lying there in so much pain with all those beds sores. No medical attention had been given to the woman for a long time,” Bonnette said.
Daughter Gloria Park Clark, 62, who listed her mother’s address as her residence, was in custody after a judge set a $3,000 cash bond Wednesday. It was not immediately clear if she had an attorney.
Police had responded to a report of elder abuse at the house in October, but no action was taken. Bonnette said he was investigating to see why.
He said Clark called an ambulance because her mother was having trouble breathing Monday evening. Police were called after it appeared there had been neglect.
Animal control workers took the parrot, seven dogs and several cats from the house.
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ChiefGeorge
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 7:00pmAhhh the daughter 62 years of age. Thats all I need to know. A baby boomer! Spoiled rotten to the core. The mother got the poisen she instilled in her daughter by not raising her correctly from infant to adulthood. My children will be there for me when I pass. Raise up a child so he shall walk upright in the world.
Report Post »Greyhound424
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 10:44amThis is what happens when our children are not raised up to respect and honor their parents. So very very sad………………
Report Post »mikenleeds
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 10:40amwhite trash ,,, maybe you will be let die the same way…
Report Post »SlimnRanger
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 9:36amture a very sad story ,but lets just suppose the daughter is mentally retarded i mean she might be ,just a thought
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 8:48amThat sounds like an Edgar Allen Poe story.
Report Post »cmsmik
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 7:17amWhen I read the parrot laughed to mimic the daughter, I cried. Can you imagine what this poor woman went through?! I‘m sure the daughter was cashing this woman’s SS checks; I don’t even have to ask. This is attempted murder in my opinion, a 98 year old woman can very easily die from an infection, and her daughter did nothing to stop it. Also, I can’t believe the judge set the bail at $3,000 dollars! When will judges start sending a clear message that our children and our elderly citizens are off limits, and we will not tolerate the murder and abuse of them any longer!
Report Post »sbroiles
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 7:17amSean Hannity’s parrot cried, “Mark Levin! Mark Levin!”
Mark Levin’s parrot cried, “Rush! Rush!”
Rush Limbaugh’s parrot cried, “I’m rich! I’m rich!”
Steve Malzberg’s parrot cried, “Rosie O’Donnell! Oprah Winfrey! Ellen de Generes!”
Bill O‘Reilly’s parrot cried, “Al! I feel guilty! I feel guilty!”
Meanwhile, Dutch Schultz filled in for Michael Savage last night. All he could do was pose, dish ad-hominem on Julian Assange and harrumph while he balanced his checkbook.
I am sorry this lady died, O.K., but the world is falling apart before our eyes. And we’re worried about a parrot now that this poor lady died? (That’s the next step).
‘Scuze me while I kiss the sky.
Report Post »sbroiles
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 7:05amSean Hannity’s parrot cried, “Mark Levin! Mark Levin!”
Mark Levin’s parrot cried, “Rush! Rush!”
Rush Limbaugh’s parrot cried, “I’m rich! I’m rich!”
Bill O‘Reilly’s parrot cried, “Al Sharpton! Al Sharpton! I feel guilty! I feel guilty!”
Steve Malzberg’s parrot cried, “Rosie O-Donnel! Oprah Winfrey! Ellen de Generes!”
Meanwhile, John Gibson cleared his throat.
And Dutch Schultz filled in for Michael Savage last night and posed and acted and harrumped and said nothing. He just laughed at Julian Assange, upped the power-structure, and balanced his checkbook.
Meanwhile, Western Civilization is disintegrating before our eyes, and all talk-show hosts can do is rip each other apart. Professional Jealousy, you know. All this, and Michael Bloomberg is as whiny as ever.
And you’re interested in a freaking PARROT???
‘Scuze me while I kiss the sky!
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 5:33amJust the title kept me from looking. It breaks my heart how people will hurt their flesh and blood…just imagine what they would do to a non-relative.SICK!!
Report Post »secretcreek
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 12:31amRegardless of the bird this is a sad testament to the lack of reverence of humanity anymore. Parrots mimic all kinds of things. Phones, dogs, squeaky doors, people…I don’t see a case for saying a parrot “laughing” is def. a cruel persons laugh. It could be mimicing laughter from someone years and years ago too…
Report Post »barackem
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 12:01amI’m more inclined to think that the laughing was probably meant to mimic crying.
Report Post »koyettsu
Posted on December 8, 2010 at 11:48pmThis is the kind of thing that ONLY happens when there is a huge lack of morals in the world. Once again way to go Progressives, lower the value of human life and you get people treating other people like animals.
Report Post »momsense
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 4:17amSorry to disagree with you,but even animals treat each other better–ever see the newsirem of the two dogs on th freeway–one stayed with the injured one until someone came to rescue them both. Think there’s a lesson there?
Report Post »SilentReader
Posted on December 8, 2010 at 11:27pmDisgusting. I can’t believe that anyone would do that to their own mother. She could have asked for help and anyone would have been happy to help her.
This is inexcusable.
If you know an elderly person in your neighborhood please check on them, and ask them how they are doing or if they need help of any sort. Do it today.
Report Post »KE_in_IA
Posted on December 8, 2010 at 10:42pmI know, let’s spend hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars defending Gloria Clark in the courts, and paying psychologists to try to learn why she did what she did, and then paying for her room & board until she dies of old age. OR, we could do the right thing and let the punishment fit the crime by tying her to a tree and letting her rot.
Report Post »GeauxAlready
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 7:20amI like the tree idea…..
Report Post »Ysbub
Posted on December 8, 2010 at 9:32pmso very sad, and only $3000 bond?? absurd. heartbreaking.
Report Post »pattybbb1
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 12:50ami thought the same thing, only $3000 bond.
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on December 8, 2010 at 9:15pmThis is such an abhorrent act of cruelty! It breaks my heart. How can anyone be so utterly cruel? God bless the poor elderly woman and the authorities who found the ugliness. Her daughter can go to h_ll.
Report Post »truthwinz
Posted on December 8, 2010 at 9:08pmThere is a special place in Hell for people like this.
Report Post »JESUS-IS-LORD
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 3:06pmThis is what happens when a family does not pray and read the Bible together.
Report Post »When man doesn’t accept God,
God will eventually leave you alone to sink in the mire of your own iniquities.
_Wolverines_
Posted on December 8, 2010 at 9:04pmWow, that’s sad.
Report Post »Karama
Posted on December 8, 2010 at 8:54pmHorrible woman. I wish things like this could carry the death penalty in some ways this is worse than if she had just shot the elderly lady. At least being shot would have been quick, what the daughter did was torture. I really would hate to see how she would treat children.
Report Post »Respectable Lady
Posted on December 8, 2010 at 8:53pmWhat a great heath care system we have. When you smell something that bad why didnt anyone do anything? I guess they only do something when you die or get killed. Cant wait for the Obama care to start. We all have something to look forward to.
Report Post »lovetheUSA
Posted on December 11, 2010 at 3:14pmcan you say death panel czar
Report Post »Chicago Ray
Posted on December 8, 2010 at 8:51pmWith family like that who needs enemies huh? Sicko’s all around us.
Report Post »mossbrain
Posted on December 8, 2010 at 8:41pmWell there goes the government again interfering in the freedom of a typical conservative family relationship. When will the government stop this infringement of our freedoms?
Islesfordian
Posted on December 8, 2010 at 9:14pmYour monicker is quite apt.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on December 8, 2010 at 9:16pmFunny Guy…….. this is very sad and a Libturd scum makes jokes
Report Post »firstHat
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 12:35amActually, I know that you are trying to be sarcastic. However, I do ask what we really know about this story. I can’t tell you how many people I know who take care of elderly parents and who love them dearly are constantly afraid that they might be accused of neglect simply because their elderly parent refuses medical attention and sometimes basic care. Try to get an upset and senile (sometimes large) adult into a bath or clean clothes if they just plain don’t want to.
On the flip side the SEIU is attempting to force unionization of home health care workers (INCLUDING FAMILY MEMBERS) and has made a practice of highlighting these stories in areas where they are pressuring states to make such care require union membership. Be very careful when reading and responding to these stories. Be careful about where you ask government to step in. Find out all the facts.
Report Post »republitarian
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 1:07amMossbrain, okay that was funny. You’re learning, but that this was not the place for it.
Firsthat, you’re right. We need to know more.
Report Post »Plankchapel
Posted on December 8, 2010 at 8:40pmI surely hope that the lady has a grandchild by that daughter. No, I really don’t. Just let the courts decide what to do with the daughter. The inmates will take care of her.
Report Post »beckwill
Posted on December 8, 2010 at 8:35pmWhat kind of sick human being could do this to anyone? All I can say is what goes around comes around.
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on December 8, 2010 at 9:33pmWhen you don’t value a human life, to the point that you torture a family member to death, I think that your own life becomes forfeit……..capital punishment is a good thing, in cases like this.
Report Post »BaldmedicRN
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 12:36pmUnfortunately, after working on an ambulance for 10 years as a paramedic, I had seen many elder abuse cases. It is far more common than we want to believe. I have seen it in urban, suburban and rural settings and among all economic classes.
Often taking care of elder parent, like pet hoarding, is harder than the care giver thought it would be. By the time that we notice that the care giver is failing, it is too late. The initial intention was good, but the care giver finds themselves without the needed resources.
Report Post »not funny
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 2:02pmWatched the movie “Grey Gardens” recently–true story about a Jackie Kennedy relative and her daughter who lived in a rundown mansion in the Hamptons. They had a good life that went bad and became hoarders. There has to be a mental illness component in situations like this.
Report Post »wai2000.com
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 7:43pmAmen to Txpilots comments
Report Post »Slobaphobe
Posted on December 8, 2010 at 8:33pmWhen you see things like this what makes anyone think the Gloria Clark‘s of the world wouldn’t do the same thing to ANY human being for a government check?
Report Post »Jim Hubbard
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 12:43amThe daughter may mentally impaired. I suspect that’s why the bond was set so low.
Report Post »raech528
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 12:45amI absolutely agree!!!
Report Post »joseph Fawcett
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 12:50amI believe that not every case is intentional. I honestly believe that a lot of people just don’t have a clue how to take care of a elderly bedridden person. If the person is not tuned into the patient and doesn’t know what to do then this type of thing can happen. I was a Certified Nursing Asst. I went into private care for Hospice Patients. I always was recieved with welcoming looks and family members were always far more relaxed to have me there to care for the loved one. Only because I knew what I was doing and have the confidence to do it well. I was able to ascess the patient and their needs and then struct a care program and adjust to the declining health of the patient. Many times those who don’t know how to care for a bed ridden patient will wait until an event such as difficult breathing to call for help. I will be the first to say ingorance of how to care for someone is no excuse at all, however it is a reason why people end up with bed sores and other stuff that can go wrong. I will say it really is crimmial what some nursing homes do. They give a CNA 15, 20, and more patients to care for and what makes it worse these are people that know, nurses, and other medically trained personal. I have seen a CNA trying to feed two and three disabled patients at the same time. That is neglect in my opinion.
http://www.josephfawcettart.com western artist
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 1:54amOMG, that is terrible – unbelievable what children will do to their parents! http://maboulette.wordpress.com
Report Post »Stuck_in_CA
Posted on December 9, 2010 at 6:38amSeems like the neighbors were aware. WHY didn’t they do anything about it?!?
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