Parents and caregiver accused of neglecting son with cerebral palsy, leading to his death from starvation

A tragic incident in Upper Dublin, Pennsylvania, has resulted in the arrest of two people and the issuance of a warrant for a third. All three are accused of fatally neglecting a 21-year-old man with cerebral palsy.

On December 31st, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office and the Upper Dublin Police Department announced the arrests of Sherrilynn Hawkins and Loretta Harris, while also issuing a public appeal for assistance in locating Vernon Hatchett, also known as Khaliyl Ward. These individuals are accused of contributing to Tylim Hatchett’s untimely death.

Upper Dublin police officers responded to an emergency call about an unresponsive male on September 18th, around 7:50 p.m. When they arrived at the scene, Tylim Hatchett was severely emaciated and motionless on the floor. Tragically, he was pronounced dead on the scene. Vernon Hatchett reportedly told officers that he discovered his son unconscious around 6 p.m.

Tylim Hatchett died as a result of cerebral palsy complications, which were exacerbated by a severe state of neglect. The forensic pathologist ruled his death a homicide.

Tylim Hatchett’s health has deteriorated significantly, according to an investigation. His weight dropped from 91 pounds in February 2024 to just 59 pounds in September. Hawkins and Harris, who worked as caretakers for Tylim Hatchett through Aveanna Healthcare, were responsible for his well-being and were compensated for their efforts. Despite this, evidence indicates that they submitted fraudulent time cards, claiming payment for hours when they were allegedly absent from their duties.

Disturbingly, Harris and Hawkins were revealed to have occasionally left Tylim Hatchett completely unattended for extended periods of time, sometimes exceeding 24 hours. A chilling analysis of the period between September 1st and 18th revealed that Tylim Hatchett was left alone within the apartment for a staggering 356 out of 425 hours, resulting in a staggering 82% of the time.

Tylim Hatchett was reliant on a daily medication regimen, but Harris allegedly failed to administer these critical treatments consistently. Furthermore, despite acknowledging her son’s deteriorating health in numerous messages to Vernon Hatchett, Hawkins continued to abandon him without providing basic nutrition or medical care.

Harris, Hawkins, and Vernon Hatchett are now facing serious criminal charges. All three have been charged with neglect of a care-dependent person. Hawkins faces the most serious charges, including first-degree murder, third-degree murder, theft by deception, and abuse of a dependent person. Harris has also been charged with theft by deception. Vernon Hatchett was charged with involuntary manslaughter.

According to court records, Hawkins has been denied bail.

According to WCAU-TV, during a press release, District Attorney Kevin Steele said “he was nonverbal, he was blind, and wheelchair bound, which made him dependent on caregivers for feeding, bathing and mobility. The victim was not provided food and water and was left alone for long, long periods of time where he starved to death.”