Three members of one family have been arrested and charged with the death of the family matriarch. Police are seeking a fourth member of the family.
All of them are charged with aggravated manslaughter of the elderly after the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner ruled the death of Mrs. Mary Hildreth Winston, 65, was a homicide due to neglect.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Mrs. Winston suffered from rheumatoid arthritis and had been bedridden for the past three years. She lived at 11029 Airview Drive with her husband, Osmond Winston, 67, and two daughters, Belinda J. Winston, 39, and 43-year-old Hyacinth Winston.
The Sheriff’s website listed Winston as being employed at Rooms To Go, but did not list places of employment for either daughter.
Police said Mrs. Winston relied solely on her family to provide care for her. She died on October 25th, and the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy the following day.
The autopsy report led to the criminal charges and arrests of the family members.
During the three years Mrs. Winston was ill, she developed bed sores which were not properly treated. The sores “became so advanced, insect activity became active on and inside the victim’s body,” police said.
Police also said one sore was so advanced it developed into a permanent wound that fully exposed the back of Mrs. Winston’s ribcage. The bandages that had been applied improperly had reportedly fused into the wound. Her legs were fused together, and the bed sheets were stuck to her back.
After receiving the toxicology and Medical Examiner’s report, Mrs. Winston’s death was ruled a homicide. Her husband and daughters lived in the home with her and were her care givers.
Police have also issued a warrant for her son, 46-year-old Osmond Ignatius Winston, who lived at a different address. Police said the son is being charged because he last saw his mother on October 21st and took no action to obtain medical attention for her.
All three family members are being held at the Hillsborough County Jail without bond. Police believe the son is out of state. The investigation is continuing.
