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

Wed Jul 23 19:23:20 PDT 2014

I appreciate Janesta's mentioning Jay Shelledy. Jay demonstrated that one
person, just one person but one special person, could convert a rather
ordinary little daily paper into perhaps the best little daily paper in the
country.

His secret? Local news.

Don Coombs

On Wed, Jul 23, 2014 at 5:56 PM, Saundra Lund <v2020 at ssl1.fastmail.fm>
wrote:

> 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
> To: thansen at moscow.com
> CC: sunilramalingam at hotmail.com; 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> 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> 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
> Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2014 14:31:03 -0700
> To: donaldrose at cpcinternet.com
> CC: 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>
> 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 <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-alleged-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.
>
>
>
> --------------------
>
>
>
> <image001.jpg>
>
>
>
> -------------------------------------
>
>
>
> Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .
>
>
>
> "Moscow Cares"
>
> http://www.MoscowCares.com <http://www.moscowcares.com/>
>
>
>
> Tom Hansen
>
> Moscow, Idaho
>
>
>
>
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