[Vision2020] Moscow man dies of starvation in squalor under alleged care of Moscow couple

Wed Jul 23 17:56:00 PDT 2014

I don't believe the female defendant was in Latah County when she was
arrested - I think she was picked up in Bingham County.  Note:  I'm not
saying she fled to avoid charges (she appears to have waived extradition
back to Latah County). Mr. Pohrman died in November and charges weren't
filed until just recently, so I don't think we can assume anything from the
fact that she wasn't still in Latah County.

Sunil, I've got a question I'm hoping you (or anyone else) can answer for
me.  I understand that the purpose of bail is to ensure that the defendant
will appear as required, but does the State have any interest in or rules
about where bail money can come from?  Or, does the Court only care that the
bail is paid?

In this instance, the accused allegedly raided their victim's bank
account(s) to the tune of $50,000 or so.  Since each of their bail amounts
are astonishingly low ($5000 for her; $10,000 for him - the cost of a bond
is usually in the neighborhood of 10%, assuming it doesn't wind up being
forfeited, in which case the accused has to pay the whole amount), does the
Court care if they used the money they stole from poor dead Mr. Pohrman to
post bond?  I'm not saying that's what happened - I'm just wondering if
that's anything the State cares about?

Also, for everyone who is horrified that a vulnerable elderly man was
tortured to death (forced starvation qualifies as torture in my book), be
aware the neither of the accused has been charged with Mr. Pohrman's death.
Both have been charged with abuse, exploitation, or neglect of a vulnerable
adult:

18-1505. Abuse, exploitation or neglect of a vulnerable adult. (1) Any
person who abuses or neglects a vulnerable adult under circumstances likely
to produce great bodily harm or death is guilty of a felony punishable by
imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years and not more than a
twenty-five thousand dollar ($25,000) fine.

The tragic fact that Mr. Pohrman actually died from the
abuse/exploitation/neglect doesn't seem to matter, at least based on the
charges filed.  I don't understand that one bit and I'm really very, very
unhappy that a poor vulnerable man is now dead.

I also do not understand how someone on felony probation was able to torture
poor Mr. Pohrman to death over a period of months.  I'm just absolutely sick
at the thought that had the PO showed up at the home, perhaps Mr. Pohrman
could have been saved.  There's something very, very wrong with this
picture.

Saundra

Moscow, ID

The least I can do is speak out for those who cannot speak out for
themselves.

~ Jane Goodall

From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
On Behalf Of Sunil
Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2014 4:08 PM
Cc: vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Moscow man dies of starvation in squalor under
alleged care of Moscow couple

I'm not saying this isn't tragic. But that doesn't mean they shouldn't have
the ability to bond out.

They may well plead guilty or be convicted. That's the time  to punish them,
not now. The investigation started in November and it doesn't appear that
they fled before the warrants were issued. 

  _____  

Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2014 15:47:25 -0700
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Moscow man dies of starvation in squalor under
alleged care of Moscow couple
From: janesta at gmail.com <mailto:janesta at gmail.com> 
To: thansen at moscow.com <mailto:thansen at moscow.com> 
CC: sunilramalingam at hotmail.com <mailto:sunilramalingam at hotmail.com> ;
vision2020 at moscow.com <mailto:vision2020 at moscow.com> 

*heart CRACKS in two*

Please excuse me.. This upsets me so much, I can't think straight enough to
speak concisely and clearly.  

Growing up in a nursing home my parents owned, and having spent most of my
life working with disabled, elderly, or an infirm population I am pissed
beyond belief.. One doesn't need have the experience I have with an at risk
population to see this is nothing short of torturous murder.  

This gentleman was found NUDE and dead in his kitchen? The alleged perps of
the crime are out on BAIL!?!?  Did not anyone notice? Of course not, or he
would be alive.

Sunil, this felony involved the DEATH of a human being. These two people,
rich or poor should not be out on bail. Where are they now?? 

Long gone are the days of Jay Shelledy and great reporting. Where the HELL
was the Daily News on this story??? 

Janesta

On Wed, Jul 23, 2014 at 3:22 PM, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com
<mailto:thansen at moscow.com> > wrote:

Just those being charged with violent crimes, Sunil . . . ESPECIALLY if
there is a death involved.

Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .

"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)

 <http://www.moscowcares.com/> http://www.MoscowCares.com

Tom Hansen

Moscow, Idaho

"There's room at the top they are telling you still.

But first you must learn how to smile as you kill,

If you want to be like the folks on the hill."

- John Lennon

On Jul 23, 2014, at 2:41 PM, Sunil <sunilramalingam at hotmail.com
<mailto:sunilramalingam at hotmail.com> > wrote:

Why do you want them locked up Tom? Do you want to lock up everyone facing
felonies? Or should only poor people lose their freedom when facing charges?

As a public defender I had lots of clients facing felonies who were out on
bail. With very few exceptions they all appeared. The few who didn't were
soon back in custody. 

Sunil

Sunil

  _____  

From: thansen at moscow.com <mailto:thansen at moscow.com> 
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2014 14:31:03 -0700
To: donaldrose at cpcinternet.com <mailto:donaldrose at cpcinternet.com> 
CC: vision2020 at moscow.com <mailto:vision2020 at moscow.com> 
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Moscow man dies of starvation in squalor under
alleged care of Moscow couple

I would be VERY interested in the amount of the bond that made it so easy
for these worms to gain their freedom.

What are the odds that these worms aren't even in the state of Idaho, let
alone Latah County?  We're talking multiple felonies, amounting to 15+ years
in prison.  Prosecutions that even I can get convictions.

Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .

"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)

 <http://www.moscowcares.com/> http://www.MoscowCares.com

Tom Hansen

Moscow, Idaho

"There's room at the top they are telling you still.

But first you must learn how to smile as you kill,

If you want to be like the folks on the hill."

- John Lennon

On Jul 23, 2014, at 1:51 PM, "Rosemary Huskey" <donaldrose at cpcinternet.com
<mailto:donaldrose at cpcinternet.com> > wrote:

This is heartbreaking.  Why wasn't this covered by the (pretend) local
newspaper?
Rose Huskey

From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com <mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com>
[mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com] On Behalf Of Tom Hansen
Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2014 12:40 PM
To: Moscow Vision 2020
Subject: [Vision2020] Moscow man dies of starvation in squalor under alleged
care of Moscow couple

Courtesy of Pullman Radio at:

http://www.pullmanradio.com/moscow-man-dies-of-starvation-in-squalor-under-a
lleged-care-of-moscow-couple/

-------------------------------------

Moscow man dies of starvation in squalor under alleged care of Moscow couple

A Moscow couple who were supposed to care for a vulnerable adult allegedly
let the man starve to death in filthy living conditions. 21 year old Lindsey
Winter and 24 year old Charles Wright have been charged with neglecting a
vulnerable adult resulting in a death, exploitation of a vulnerable adult
and welfare fraud. The case began on November third when Moscow Police
responded to an unconscious male inside a trailer home on Brent Drive.
Officers found 67 year old Lee Pohrman naked on the kitchen floor. Pohrman
was later pronounced dead at Gritman Medical Center in Moscow. The cause of
death was determined to be months of malnutrition. Officers say Pohrman was
living in conditions so filthy that they became nauseous inside the trailer.
Pohrman was covered in bed sores and doctors determined his nails hadn't
been trimmed in a year. Winter and Wright were supposed to be taking care of
Pohrman starting in February of 2011. Wright spoke with Moscow Detectives
and reportedly stated that Pohrman was to pay them 400 dollars a month for
care giving. Investigators then determined that the couple allegedly removed
nearly 50 thousand dollars from Pohrman's account. That's roughly five times
more than the amount they were to be paid to care for the man who died in
squalor inside their home. Moscow Police also say the couple committed fraud
in receiving nearly eleven thousand dollars in food stamps while not
reporting income for taking care of Pohrman. Pohrman's Doctor says he
suffered from bipolar disorder and needed constant care. Neither Winter nor
Wright had any training for caregiving. Wright reportedly admitted to Moscow
Police in an interview that he "Did a piss poor job." when referring to his
care of Pohrman in the time before his death. The only significant
connection between the couple and Pohrman is that Winter is described as a
family friend. Both were arrested on the felony counts after they were
recently charged in Latah County Second District Court. The couple has since
posted bond. Winter is scheduled to have a court hearing Wednesday afternoon
while Wright is scheduled to have his preliminary hearing later this month.

--------------------

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-------------------------------------

Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .

"Moscow Cares" 

 <http://www.moscowcares.com/> http://www.MoscowCares.com

Tom Hansen

Moscow, Idaho

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