LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. — The woman charged with failing to provide proper care to an elderly man also failed to appear for her court hearing this week.

Minnie Lee McDonald, 66, of 212 Lee Hurley Road in East Bernstadt, was scheduled to appear in Laurel District Court on Tuesday on charges of knowingly abusing and neglecting an elderly man for whom she was caring for. She is also charged with misusing money she received for his care.

Tuesday’s court hearing was a preliminary hearing, which would allow McDonald to either waive her rights to a hearing and have the case sent before a grand jury, or to hold a hearing in which evidence is presented against her, with her attorney questioning the prosecution’s witnesses. Since both McDonald’s charges are felony offenses, she could not plead guilty to those charges at the district court level, but must send the case to a grand jury for possible indictment. If indicted, McDonald would then appear in Laurel Circuit Court where she would be arraigned, bond set or continued under the same conditions as the initial bond, and begin the legal process by having pretrial hearings until either a trial date is set or until she enters a plea bargain.

Her failure to appear for her court hearing on Tuesday resulted in Laurel District Judge John Chappell issuing a warrant for McDonald’s arrest with bond restrictions at $25,000 cash.

McDonald was arrested on July 26 after relatives of the bedridden 73-year-old man she was caring for could not find McDonald and the man. After learning the couple had moved within the two weeks since family members had last visited, officers with the London Post 11 of the Kentucky State Police began investigating the whereabouts of the two.

They soon found them, living in a home with some friends on Lee Hurley Road in East Bernstadt in a mobile home that lacked air conditioning. The elderly man was in a bedroom of the home, lying in urine-stained sheets and covered with flies. According to the police report, the bedroom where the man was staying had a strong odor of urine and the sole ventilation was a small fan that was reportedly blowing “hot air” from the 100-plus temperature during that time frame.

When questioned, McDonald told police the elderly man drew $4,000 per month from a previous employer and that she, as appointee over his affairs, drew $700 per month. However, she could not account for how the money was being spent and said they had no money and were living with friends after being evicted from their prior residence.

McDonald was arrested and charged with knowingly abusing/neglecting of an adult and knowingly exploiting an adult. Jail records show McDonald was released on July 31 on a $25,000 unsecured bond and scheduled for a preliminary hearing in Laurel District Court on Tuesday, Aug. 28.



njohnson@sentinel-echo.com