Death of elderly mother results in charges against Glen Ellyn resident

GLEN ELLYN — A Glen Ellyn resident has been charged with criminal neglect in the death of his elderly mother, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced Friday in a news release.

Berlin said that John Gault, 64, of 456 Elm St., Glen Ellyn, has been charged with criminal neglect of an elderly person following the death of his 88-year-old mother, Margaret.

On Jan. 16, paramedics were called to the home Gault shared with his mother to assist in a medical emergency. Upon their arrival, paramedics discovered Mrs. Gault lying naked on the bedroom floor dehydrated and emaciated, according to the news release. Additionally, she had bed sores on her shoulder blades and tailbone.

Mrs. Gault was immediately taken to a local hospital where she died a short time later, the news release reported. An investigation into the death revealed that Mrs. Gault had been lying on the floor for several weeks and that she died due to an infection as a consequence of the pressure sores on her body due to lying on the floor, according to the state's attorney's office.

On March 11, a $3,000 arrest warrant was issued for John Gault. He turned himself in to authorities Friday morning and was released from custody after posting the necessary $300, or 10 percent, of his bond.

“The allegations against Mr. Gault are just horrendous,” Berlin said. “Seniors deserve our care, respect and understanding. They do not deserve to be treated as alleged in this case, left to die on the floor of their home. I would like to thank the Glen Ellyn Police Department, particularly Detective Dave Scuito, for their efforts in this very disturbing case as well as assistant state’s attorney Diane Michalak for her work.”

Gault is charged with two counts of criminal neglect of an elderly person, the most serious of which is a Class 2 felony punishable by up to three to seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. He is also eligible for parole. His next court appearance is scheduled for April 15 in front of Judge Daniel Guerin.

Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.