PHOENIX, Arizona — A 52-year-old Arizona man is facing abuse charges after police say he left his disabled adult son in a bathtub for nearly seven weeks.
Officers arrived at Melvin Shimkus’ home on June 29 for a welfare check. The moment they stepped inside, a strong, pungent odor filled the air.
What they found in the bathroom was far worse.
“Only Skin and Bones”
The victim — Shimkus’ 31-year-old son — was extremely emaciated. He smelled like “rotting meat.” He was covered in feces. Both lower legs had turned purple.
Small ropes were tied around his right leg, and his right foot was severely deformed.
When an officer pulled back the shower curtain, he saw the son’s right knee bent 90 degrees in the wrong direction.
“From his knee to his foot, it appeared the muscles were gone, leaving only skin and bone,” the arrest affidavit states.
What the Father Claimed
Shimkus told police he had been caring for his son for about a year. His son has a nerve disease that prevents him from walking and limits use of his hands.
He claimed his son refused hospital treatment multiple times — even after the leg was visibly bent backward.
The victim’s uncle, who lived in the same home, told officers that Shimkus’ timeline did not match up. He said he had been smelling feces from the bathroom for weeks.
Charges and Status
Shimkus was charged with vulnerable adult abuse and is being held in Maricopa County Jail on a $12,000 bond.
His son was hospitalized following the welfare check. His condition had not been publicly confirmed as of Thursday.
Does this case raise questions about how your community protects vulnerable adults? Share your thoughts in the comments.
