Woman admits neglect count in mother’s death

By Dionne Waugh

The Journal Gazette

Alberta P. Puff thought she was taking care of her elderly Fort Wayne mother. She had always done everything her mother told her to do.

But Puff, who psychologists found barely competent for trial, should have known to seek medical attention before her 80-year-old mother died of malnutrition, dehydration and skin ulcers.

Willodean Puff was found lying on a mattress on top of and surrounded by foot-high piles of newspapers, Disney videos and trash, some of which had been there for years.

Alberta Puff admitted her actions Wednesday in Allen Superior Court when she pleaded guilty as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors who agreed to reduce the felony charge to a misdemeanor and recommend a 180-day suspended jail sentence and a year of probation.

Puff, of the 3500 block of South Hanna Street, told the judge she was 59 and three-quarters years old and softly answered yes to questions.

She was originally charged with neglecting a dependent as a Class B felony, which carries a punishment of six to 20 years in prison. Instead, prosecutors amended the charge to a Class B misdemeanor of neglecting a dependent or endangered adult.

Puff told police she did not seek medical care for her mother because her mother told her not to.

Paramedics found Willodean Puff dead inside the Hanna Street house on Feb. 4, 2005. Police noticed that she was thin and had large bedsores on her body and a large open wound on her hip. It appeared she had been dead for some time, possibly months, according to court records.

Her death was ruled a homicide in May 2005. In addition to dehydration and malnutrition, Puff died of necrotic skin ulcers because of elder abuse and neglect, an Allen County coroner’s report said.

Alberta Puff told police her mother could not feed herself, clean herself or do anything for herself. She said she would only feed or clean her mother if she let her.

Allen County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Michael Mc Alexander said after the hearing it would have been difficult to prove that Puff fully understood she had a greater responsibility.

“Three different psychologists evaluated her and were split on her sanity and competency. We could argue who was taking care of whom?” McAlexander said.

Other people verified that Puff did whatever her mother told her to and that her mother was domineering, McAlexander said.

Defense attorney Michelle Kraus said the agreement was a fair resolution that resolved the case without going to trial.

“She was scared (of going to trial). She has led such a structured life. She graduated from high school, but her mom told her what to do and what not to do,” Kraus said.

The pair lived in filth at their house, McAlexander said, describing the piles that covered the entire house. One bedroom was completely closed off because of the amount of trash, and it was clear the bathroom had not been cleaned in years, he said. The Puff women slept on mattresses on top of the filth on the floor, he said.

“It’s a very sad case,” McAlexander said. “We take these cases very seriously. We have to look at the circumstances of each case, but the minimum standard that we require even with someone who’s minimally competent is that they must report when someone is deteriorating physically and needs medical care.

“Certainly for the elderly, we need to assist them. They shouldn’t die alone, unattended, malnourished, lying on a filthy mattress.”

dwaugh@jg.net