Cottondale Man Indicted on Manslaughter, Elder Abuse Charges for His Mother’s Death
A Cottondale man has been arrested on manslaughter and elder abuse charges after a Tuscaloosa County grand jury found that he recklessly caused the death of his elderly mother, who lived in his care, earlier this year.
Jonathan Chad Simmons, 49, was indicted September 30 and arrested October 25, according to court records. His bond was set at $30,000.
Investigators with the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit said Simmons was the caretaker for his mother and that she died as a result of his reckless neglect.
The indictment charges Simmons with two counts involving his mother, Brenda Hallman Simmons.
Count one alleges he caused her death by neglecting an elderly person, accusing him of reckless manslaughter, a Class B felony under that statute.
Count two alleges elder abuse and neglect in the second degree, and is also a Class B felony.
In a Tuesday morning message, Captain Jack Kennedy, the commander of the VCU, said Tuscaloosa County sheriff’s deputies and medics were sent to the 13000 block of Highway 216 on a medical call on Saturday, May 16.
They found Brenda Hallman breathing but unresponsive, according to the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit. She was taken to a hospital by ambulance and died several days later while under medical care.
Her family and the medical staff treating her suspected she had been neglected or abused. Hospital staff told investigators that when Hallman was examined she had multiple open wounds and sores on her body, showed signs of not having been bathed, and had feces and insects in her hair.
Investigators executed a search warrant at the home and described it as excessively dirty and unsanitary, and her son reportedly admitted he had not gotten her medical treatment in over a year.
An autopsy determined she died of sepsis caused by complications from multiple open bedsores.
That information was presented to a grand jury, who indicted Simmons on the two felony charges.
An arrest warrant was issued for Simmons on October 6 and was executed October 25. Simmons is being held in the Tuscaloosa County Jail on a $30,000 consolidated bond.
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