Mother of dead teen charged with neglect

Neglect charges have been filed against the mother of a 14-year-old mentally disabled boy found dead in the backyard of a West suburban home that was infested with insects and animals.

Lydia Price of Berwyn is charged with three felony counts of criminal abuse and neglect of a disabled person, and three misdemeanor counts of endangering the health of a child. Cook County state’s attorney spokeswoman Tandra Simonton says the 49-year-old Price released Monday on $100,000 bond.

Matthew Degner was found dead outside his home on Thursday. The medical examiner’s office says he died of pneumonia.

Prosecutors told a judge the house where the boy was found stank of feces and urine, and responding officers found 109 cats, three dogs, 38 cockatiels, a raccoon, an opossum and an Egyptian reptile.