Hanover Park woman charged with neglecting elderly father

A Hanover Park woman faces charges that she neglected her 81-year-old father, a Mount Prospect resident, authorities announced Thursday.

Paulette A. Rhody, 56, of the 7000 block of Hanover Street in Hanover Park, was arrested earlier this week and charged with one felony count of criminal neglect of an elderly person and a felony count of financial exploitation of an elderly person, Mount Prospect police said in a news release. Her next court date is on Jan. 20.

Authorities began investigating Rhody nearly a year ago. In January of 2011, police were asked to conduct a well-being check on a male resident who lived on the 200 block of North School Street. Police found the man in need of medical assistance. His residence was in disarray, police said.

The primary caregiver could not be located at the time and the man was placed under the care of the Cook County Office of the Public Guardian.

An investigation determined Rhody, the man's daughter, was the primary caregiver, police said. Police arrested her on Tuesday. Rhody appeared in court on Wednesday. A Cook County judge set her bond at $50,000.