Son charged with murder in neglect death of father in Oconee County
The 45-year-old son of a Watkinsville man who died three days after Christmas was charged with felony murder Tuesday after an investigation alleged the son’s reckless negligence led to his father’s death.
The murder warrant was served by an Oconee County sheriff’s deputy on David Allen Stanton, who remained in jail Wednesday without bond.
On the day his father, 63-year-old Arthur Kenneth Stanton, was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital, the son was arrested on charges of reckless conduct and neglect of an elderly persons, according to the sheriff’s office. The murder charge was filed after the victim had died.
Those charges stemmed from the sordid conditions that a deputy found upon entering the Stanton home off Old Mars Hill Road, located off Mars Hill Road near the Oconee Connector.
In addition to the son, deputies have charged Sandra Dee Bass, 61, with felony neglect of an elderly person. Bass’ relationship to the Stanton’s was not released, but she resided at the Stanton home.
Bass was released from custody Wednesday on a $10,000 bond.
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Jail records show that in February 2023, Bass was arrested by Watkinsville police on drug charges including possession of methamphetamine and marijuana.
Sheriff’s reports show that the criminal case against the pair emerged when Cpl. Pat Holl arrived at the Stanton home shortly after 2 a.m. on Dec. 27. A National EMS ambulance was already on scene and a medic had called the sheriff’s office for assistance as Stanton needed immediate transport to a hospital.
A sheriff’s release showed that that the elder Stanton was “in extreme medical distress” and was having difficulties breathing.
The man’s legs were drawn up to his body and were extremely stiff, according to the deputy.
The officer also described the sordid conditions that existed in the bed and bedroom. The report shows the officer heard the son tells medics that his father had not been bathed in two weeks.
After the father was transported to a hospital, Holl began photographing the scene and documenting what he found in the room, then he called for an investigator to respond.
The son explained he had been caring for his father since September 2022, according to the report.
After interviewing the son, the deputy arrested Stanton on the negligence charges.
The next day, the father died at St. Mary’s and the cause of death was attributed to the negligent treatment “he received from his son," according to the sheriff's office.
David Stanton also gave officers an address in Oakwood, a city near Gainesville in Hall County,.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Son charged with murder in neglect death of father in Oconee County
