Tennessee Woman Arrested After Her 85-Year-Old Mother Found Covered In Bugs And Feces

A Tennessee woman was arrested after her 85-year-old mother was rescued from her home, where she was found covered in bugs, urine and feces.

According to a first respondent who took part in the rescue, this was the "worst case of neglect" he has ever seen. The victim's daughter, June Harber, 57, has been charged with aggravated neglect and aggravated abuse. The police said June was the primary caretaker of the woman, CBS/MyNetworkTV-affiliated WVLT 8 reported.

According to the police, officers were called to the 1500 block of Duke Street in Nutbush in Memphis on June 16. On arrival, they found the elderly woman being transported to the hospital by first responders in hazmat suits.

The first responders told the officers they found the woman in extremely deplorable condition, lying on a heavily soiled mattress on the floor. The house, filled with trash, was uninhabitable. They said the stench from the house was so overpowering that officers could not get inside.

Doctors, who attended to the victim, later said the patient had dementia, pneumonia, pressure ulcers, and was malnourished.

Meanwhile, June's son Scott Harber told ABC-affiliated media outlet WATE his mother did everything she could to take care of his grandmother. He also denied claims that his grandmother was sleeping on a mattress on the floor. "My grandma is actually in a medical bed that was given to her a few years ago," he said.

Scott said it was June who called 911 when his grandmother could not get out of the bed to use the restroom.

"The feces and the urine that they speak of, it was specifically on that day that she called the paramedics," he said. "My mom, herself, has health issues in her legs. My mom can barely walk, and if the judge will see that. My mom’s legs are purple, they are purple, and it’s not like she can afford to go to the doctor herself."

He also denied allegations there were bugs. "I don't know where that comes from. I’m not necessarily saying they’re lying but I know some things that they were saying are not true," he told WATE.

Scott added his grandmother is doing well, and he speaks to her almost every day. The victim is now cared for by a relative. "I don’t know what they were after or what they’re trying to do but it’s truly humiliating and disgusting," Scott added.