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Terre Haute couple charged in death of paraplegic man

Posted December 21, 2010 10:00 pm

Associated Press

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — A western Indiana couple faces neglect charges in the death of a wheelchair-bound man who died after contracting pneumonia in the couple's filthy, roach-infested home.

The Tribune-Star reports that 52-year-old Joseph J. Rheubottom Jr. and his 41-year-old wife Melissa Rheubottom entered not guilty pleas Tuesday to charges of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury during a Vigo County court appearance. They remained jailed on $75,000 bond each.

The Terre Haute couple was arrested Monday in the death of 46-year-old James Cliff, a paraplegic in their care who was Joseph Rheubottom's half-brother. A probable cause affidavit states that he died from pneumonia he contracted after suffering numerous infected wounds.

Police said the couple's home was roach-infested and its floor was covered with feces from cats and dogs.

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