Ron Welch
Muskingum County Prosecutor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, December 16, 2024
Nashport Man Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter and Elder Abuse
Michael J. Slaughter, 41, of Nashport, pleaded guilty to charges related to the death of his father, 65-year-old Michael Slaughter, Sr.
On December 13, the younger Slaughter pleaded guilty to a first-degree felony charge of involuntary manslaughter and a fourth-degree felony charge of failure to provide for a functionally impaired person.
On July 2, Slaughter’s father was taken to the hospital due to medical issues. Slaughter’s son lived with his father in a camper in Nashport and was responsible for cooking and caring for his father, who was suffering from depression.
Slaughter’s father's condition was such that he was too weak to stand up on his own.
Michael Slaughter Sr. developed sepsis. and passed away as a result of his son failing to adequately care and provide for him. He had a blood infection, acute organ dysfunction, and a urinary tract infection. Investigators reported the victim had been left to sit in his own urine and feces for such a long time that maggots had infested his lower body and genitalia.
Slaughter will be sentenced at a later date.
Muskingum County Prosecuting Attorney Ron Welch says this is a case in which no punishment is adequate.
“There are times where no amount of punishment is enough,” Prosecutor Welch said. “This is one of those cases. Our elders deserve to live with dignity and respect. not be left to die in their own waste by loved ones who are supposed to care for them.”
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