Indiana Woman Charged With Neglect Resulting in Death After Disabled Brother Dies in Squalor

Kathryn Payton, 51, faces an upgraded charge after her brother Christopher Leach died of malnutrition and dehydration. Both he and their father were found covered in waste.

Upgraded Charge After Disabled Brother Dies in Neglect Case

Prosecutors in Vanderburgh County, Indiana, have charged a 51-year-old woman with neglect of a dependent resulting in death after her developmentally delayed brother died following hospitalization in May. Kathryn Ann Payton already faced one count of neglect in connection with her elderly father, who survived. Court records confirm the additional charge was filed this week.

Law & Crime first reported the underlying case after pest control workers inadvertently exposed the conditions inside the Lincoln Avenue apartment where Payton's father and brother lived.

Christopher Leach died after being admitted to a hospital in May, according to Evansville ABC affiliate WEHT. An autopsy determined his cause of death was malnutrition and dehydration due to complications from neglect.

Conditions Discovered During Routine Pest Control Visit

The situation came to light on May 1, when a pest control technician arrived to perform a routine quarterly treatment. The technician encountered a resident who appeared unwell and was physically covered in waste. The apartment complex manager then called police for a welfare check.

Responding officers described the scene as "overwhelming to the point that it caused nausea." Inside the residence, they found Payton's father — described as "medically frail" and suffering from cognitive decline — and her brother, who has developmental disabilities and multiple physical ailments.

Both men were reportedly found "covered in urine and feces," with clothing and bedding that were "extremely soiled." Investigators documented feces consistent with both human and animal waste on the floors, on furniture where the men sat, and on a pillow where the father slept.

Medical Condition of the Victims

Medical personnel on the scene found evidence that the severe lack of care had persisted for an extended period. One man was discovered in a recliner with a "labored, hacking cough," his clothing soaked in waste "down to the knees." His blood oxygen level was recorded at a dangerously low 87%. The other man, found in a back bedroom, could not stand without assistance and had "open sores on his body" and a "rattling cough."

Both victims were transported to Deaconess Gateway Hospital for emergency treatment and admitted for further care due to their "medically compromised" states.

Payton Admitted Withholding Help as Punishment

When questioned by authorities, Payton identified herself as the primary caregiver for both men. She initially said she did not know why they had not cleaned themselves and claimed to have checked on them earlier that day. Her account later shifted.

Payton reportedly admitted she was fully aware of the unsanitary conditions. According to statements from emergency medical technicians cited in the affidavit, she told investigators that because the two men would not clean themselves, she "showed them" by removing their television and Amazon Fire Stick. She further admitted she refused to provide assistance in order to "teach them a lesson."

The neglect also extended to medical care. Despite her brother's deteriorating condition — a rattling cough and pronounced physical weakness — Payton allegedly told police he had been sick for approximately a week but had not been taken to a doctor. She reportedly stated that if he chose not to see a physician, "he would just sit with it."

Payton Lived Separately in Her Father's Home

The investigation revealed a marked disparity in living arrangements. While her father and brother remained in the squalid apartment, Payton was residing in a separate house in the 600 block of Kingswood Drive — a property owned by her father. The apartment complex manager also told police that management had been unaware Leach was even living in the Lincoln Avenue unit.

Investigators concluded that both men lacked the "mental or physical ability to care for themselves," making Payton's withdrawal of basic care both ineffective as a disciplinary measure and dangerous to their lives. The affidavit states that Payton "knowingly allowed both individuals to remain in a condition where they were covered in feces and urine for an extended period of time," creating an "imminent danger to their life and well-being."

Court Schedule

Payton is scheduled for a pretrial conference on September 28. Her trial is set to begin February 16, 2027. She continues to face a separate count of neglect of a dependent in connection with her father's treatment.

Source: Law & Crime