March 31, 2022 at 2:28 a.m.
Hope woman to serve 5 years in neglect case
By Bartholomew County Sheriff's Department-
On December 21, 2018, Sgt. Jason Williams, detective at the time, was assigned to investigate a severe Neglect of a Dependent case at Columbus Regional Hospital. CRH officials and medical staff advised Sgt. Williams that the victim, William Ward 67 of Columbus, had suffered what were deemed to be serious and likely fatal injuries from being neglected and denied medical care.
Ward had suffered a stroke and Teresa Wade, 57, of Hope, had been appointed by a judge to be his caretaker.
Throughout Sgt. Williams investigation, he learned that Wade had moved Ward into a small home with she and her husband, and admittedly continued to take advantage of the fact that she was the payee for Ward’s disability payment each month.
Wade failed to care for Ward by not taking him to his medical appointments, not filling or administering his medications as prescribed. At the time, Ward was admitted to the hospital due to the fact he was extremely malnourished.
Ward suffered severe bed sores, which resulted in infection inside his body and bones that ultimately resulted in his death a short time later.
Wade was arrested and charged with Neglect of a Dependent resulting in Serious Bodily Injury (death). During Sgt. Williams investigation, he also found that Wade had been to the Indiana Department of Corrections previously for an unrelated Neglect case.
After several delays and continuances, on October 11th, Wade plead guilty to a Level 3 Felony Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. A sentencing hearing was held on March 24th, where Wade was ordered to execute five years in the Indiana Department of Corrections and two years of probation once she is released.
