Group home neglect leads to death of man with disabilities — Photo 35945460 © Alexandru Cuznetov | Dreamstime.com

Bazetta Township, OH – A group home in Ohio is facing allegations of negligence after a resident died due to severe constipation. James Stewart, 41, experienced a “massive” buildup of impacted feces weighing over 20 pounds, according to a lawsuit filed by his family.

The lawsuit claims that the Clear Skies Ahead group home failed to provide necessary care for Stewart, who had a history of autism spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizoaffective disorder. His family asserts that staff did not take his complaints seriously during the weeks leading up to his death.

Stewart died on Thursday after reporting abdominal pain and constipation for several weeks. The complaint alleges that he showed visible signs of distress, including bruising on his abdomen. Despite his worsening condition, staff reportedly did not inform his physician or family about his health concerns.

On the day of his death, a staff member advised Stewart to “sit on the toilet,” but he was unable to have a bowel movement. A manager later found him unresponsive in his room. Emergency services discovered a discolored line across his abdomen, as well as significant swelling.

An autopsy revealed that Stewart’s colon had been obstructed by hardened stool for an extended period, which caused pressure on his internal organs. His family’s attorney stated that the case highlights the importance of accountability in care facilities.

Clear Skies Ahead and Fairhaven Industries, which was contracted by the group home, have not responded to requests for comment.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.