Father's death is ruled homicide

sons charged

September 15, 2007|By ERIN JULIUS

HAGERSTOWN - The sons of an 85-year-old man who died in April, a month after he was found tied to a chair in his home, were indicted Tuesday on charges of second-degree murder, according to a Washington County Sheriff's Department press release.

Robert Charles Record Sr., of 16814 Longfellow Court, died April 5 from complications of dehydration, bedsores and an existing heart condition, deputies said. The Medical Examiner's Office in Baltimore ruled his death a homicide, deputies said.

Kenneth Allen Record, 61, and Gerald Wolford Record, 46, of the same address, also were charged with manslaughter and abuse/neglect of a vulnerable adult, deputies said.

Both men were being held Friday at the Washington County Detention Center in lieu of $750,000 bond, deputies said.

When Washington County Sheriff's Department deputies arrived at the home March 6, they found Robert Record tied to a chair with a leather dog leash, Lt. Mark Knight said Friday afternoon. Record was in bad condition, with large bedsores and bruises all over his body, he said.

Record's clothes were soiled with urine and feces, and he was unresponsive when emergency personnel arrived at the home, deputies said.

Kenneth and Gerald Record were supposed to have been their father's caregivers, Knight said. Judging from the elder Record's condition, the man was tied to a chair whenever his sons weren't home, he said.

Record was taken to Washington County Hospital, where he stayed until his death, Knight said.

"The wounds that were evident were of such a serious nature that I couldn't believe my eyes," said David Engle, director of the Washington County Department of Social Services. "I couldn't believe the pictures that were in front of me."

The department received three referrals regarding Robert Record, Engle said Friday.

On Nov. 27, 2006, Frederick (Md.) Memorial Hospital contacted the department after releasing Record from the hospital to Beverly Healthcare in Hagerstown, Engle said. A department investigator met with Record Nov. 29, 2006, Engle said.

The department had no reports concerning Record prior to the Nov. 27, 2006, report, Engle said.

Record was released to his sons from Beverly Healthcare Feb. 15, Knight said.

The indictments against the Record brothers say that the men "feloniously and with malice aforethought did kill and murder Robert Charles Record Sr." between Feb. 15 and March 6, 2007.

The department also received two referrals concerning Record from Washington County Hospital, Engle said. On March 6, the hospital notified the department after emergency personnel took him to the emergency room. The hospital also contacted the department April 6, the day after Record's death.

·Anyone who suspects child or elder abuse/neglect can the Washington County Department of Social Services hot line at 240-420-2222.

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