Authorities charged the Ross Township couple today with third-degree murder in the August 2011 death of Barbara Rabins.
Court records reveal gruesome allegations of neglect on the part of a couple charged today in the 2011 death of a 70-year-old Ross Township, Monroe County, woman.
John Tedesco, 43, and Tina Tedesco, 37, both of Ross Township, were charged with third-degree murder and other offenses after allegedly failing to care for Barbara Rabins, leading to her death.
Authorities say the couple used more than $110,000 from Rabins’ trust fund to pay for their expenses and family vacations.
On Aug. 18, 2011, according to court papers, police responded to the Tedescos' home in the 100 block of Corine Way when the couple found Rabins not breathing. She was pronounced dead in the home.
An autopsy revealed Rabins had severe bed sores all over her body and died from dehydration and asphyxiation after choking on her own vomit, according to court records. A diaper she was wearing was allegedly soaked with urine, feces and blood. The death was ruled a homicide.
Police say John Tedesco met Rabins in 1988 at an apartment complex where he worked as a manager. He told police Rabins moved in with him and his wife about 12 years ago and they lived at the Corine Way home for about five years, court papers say.
Rabins suffered a stroke in June 2010 and Tedesco said care for her had become increasingly difficult, according to court documents. Tedesco told police he could not afford to pay for a nursing home and there were issues with Rabins' insurance coverage, court records say. During a later interview, according to police, he revealed that if Rabins were sent to a care facility, his family would no longer receive payments from her trust fund.
Tina Tedesco told police she never changed Rabins' diapers and only knew Rabins through her husband, court papers say. The Tedescos would receive $1,300 per month from the victim's Social Security, about $1,500 per month directly from Rabins' trust fund for rent expenses and another $450 from the trust fund for miscellaneous expenses and the entirety of the family's utility bills, court papers say.
Tina Tedesco, when questioned about it, said she never thought of using the money to pay for an in-home nursing aid to take care of Rabins, according to court records.
$110k paid, records say
The Tedescos were paid $110,047 between 2009 and 2011 from Rabins' trust fund account, according to bank records inspected by Pennsylvania State Police. The money was meant for Rabins' care, court papers say, but was spent almost exclusively on the Tedescos.
Police learned Rabins may have stayed part of the time in an apartment on Route 115 where she was listed as a tenant. A search of the home revealed some of her belongings and blankets and couches stained with fecal matter, police said. Authorities say there were only a very few of Rabins' personal items at the Corine Way home and there were no photos of her on display in the home.
Though they were unrelated, Tedesco identified himself as Rabins' nephew in official documents, court papers say.
Rabins made several trips to medical facilities in the years before her death. During a March 2010 visit to Pocono Medical Center in East Stroudsburg, nurses noted Rabins had skin missing and scabbing on her buttocks.
After her stroke in June 2010, records revealed Rabins might have a mental illness in addition to other medical complications. She weighed 216 pounds at the time, court papers say.
She was transferred to Forest Manor for care, according to authorities. But John Tedesco, against medical advice, signed out Rabins from the care facility, court records say.
Skin breaking down
On July 15, 2010, Rabins was again admitted to Pocono Medical Center for an altered mental status, court papers say. Records indicate the woman’s skin was breaking down under the pressure of bed sores and her mental capacity was so diminished that she was unlikely to make decisions on her own, according to court records. The hospital recommended Rabins be provided a surrogate decision-maker and guardian, court papers say.
Rabins was transferred July 21, 2010, to Somerset Valley Rehabilitation and Nursing Care, but Tedesco had her discharged -- again, against medical advice -- on Sept. 17, 2010, according to court documents.
Police say Rabins weighed only 116 pounds when she died. Authorities allege the Tedescos denied Rabins food, liquids and adequate care, isolating and concealing the victim while they collected money meant to pay for her care.
Both John and Tina Tedesco are charged with third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, neglect of a care-dependent person, conspiracy, theft, theft by deception, receiving stolen property, theft by failure to make disposition of funds and tampering with evidence.
They were arraigned this morning before District Judge Thomas E. Olsen and sent to Monroe County Prison without bail.