Deltona, FL – A licensed nurse is behind bars for neglecting her sick husband and giving him nothing to eat or drink for days other than beer.
53-year-old Tracy F. Gillespie was arrested and charged with elderly neglect late Thursday night by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office after her husband called for help because he thought he heard someone in their Deltona home, according to the arrest report.
Deputies found Gillespie’s 65-year-old husband in a bedroom lying on the floor and propped against a wall, covered in a blanket that was “saturated” with urine, feces and blood, per the report.
The report also noted that there were several Budweiser beer cans within the reach of Gillespie’s husband when deputies got on scene.
When questioned, Gillespie’s husband claimed he had been on the floor for 4 days and his wife refused to help him get medical treatment.
Deputies noted in the report that it was difficult to breathe in the home due to the smell of human waste.
Gillespie said her husband has stage 4 renal failure and often hallucinates but stopped speaking to deputies soon after that, according to the arrest report.
The report also noted that she blamed the state for not giving her proper assistance to take care of her husband from home and that her husband must have fallen out of bed just before deputies got to the July Circle home.
Paramedics who responded to the home told VCSO that Gillespie’s husband was severely dehydrated and malnourished and that he also had open bleeding sores on his arms and near his clavicle.
First responders also say that Gillespie’s husband likely spent at least 2 days using the same linen based on the amount of human waste and blood on it.
Gillespie’s husband was Baker Acted and taken to Florida Hospital Orange City after he refused medical treatment, per deputies.
Deltona Animal Control took possession of the couple’s 4 dogs and cat, according to VCSO. The state Department of Children & Families was also notified.
As of 2pm Friday, Gillespie is held on $2,500 bond at Volusia County Jail.
Tracy F. Gillespie (mugshot courtesy VCJ)
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