BLAIR COUNTY, PA – A Pennsylvania woman was sentenced to prison for allowing her wheelchair-bound mother to suffer from neglect, resulting in her death. Colleen Sayegh, 38, received a sentence of 15 months to eight years for guilty pleas on Tuesday for negligent care of a dependent person, according to Blair County Prosecutor Peter Weeks.
Authorities discovered the case after a 911 call was made on July 19, 2022. Responding officers found the victim, Sayegh’s mother, barely responsive at a residence on Mill Hill Road, with severe open wounds and dehydration.
An autopsy revealed that the victim died on July 21, 2022, from sepsis caused by skin infections linked to her living conditions. The complaint noted she had been lying in feces and urine for an extended period.
Investigators later assessed the home and reported it was in deplorable conditions. They documented animal feces scattered throughout the residence and noted a foul odor.
During the investigation, Sayegh stated her mother insisted on returning home from a nursing home after a stroke in February 2021. She acknowledged that she had not bathed her mother for several months and had not taken her to a doctor in over a year.
At sentencing, Sayegh claimed her mother refused treatment for her sores, which Judge Jackie Atherton Bernard rebutted, stating, “we don’t even treat animals like this.” She criticized Sayegh’s neglect, emphasizing the serious nature of the situation.
Peter Weeks confirmed that the prosecution was aided by the efforts of the Pennsylvania State Police and various healthcare providers. He expressed gratitude for those involved, noting it was essential to hold Sayegh accountable for the suffering caused.
