Harrisburg (KMTR) - Linn County Sheriff Tim Mueller says detectives are investigating the death of a Harrisburg woman. The woman's son has been arrested.
Sheriff Mueller says 83 year old Virginia Katherine Bryant was found deceased on the floor of her bedroom by her son, Douglas DeHaven, on November 10th.
Investigators say DeHaven was the primary care provider and lived in the same home as his mother. According to Mueller, DeHaven checked on her on November 7th and found her lying on the bedroom floor and left her there. DeHaven told detectives his mother was on the floor because her back hurt.
DeHaven told police he checked on her again the next day and she was unresponsive. He said he didn't check on her again until two days later on November 10th and she was dead.
Sheriff Mueller says Bryant was covered in feces and body fluids, and had large pressure sores on her body.
Preliminary autopsy findings by the state medical examiner's office determined the probable cause of death was heart disease. Results of additional lab tests are pending at this time.
On November 15th, detectives arrested DeHaven on the charge of first-degree criminal mistreatment. He was lodged in the Linn County Jail.
