A heartbreaking and disturbing story has emerged from Lowell, Arkansas, where a 73-year-old man, David Whitten, is facing serious charges after the tragic death of his adopted daughter, Caterina Whitten, who was blind and disabled. The 29-year-old woman was found dead in a home described as filthy, with cockroach bites on her body and wearing a soiled adult diaper.
Authorities say David Whitten has been charged with negligent homicide and endangering the welfare of an incompetent person. Caterina was found in a house filled with trash, feces, and cockroaches. The home had only one working toilet, and part of it was flooded. Dirty dishes with mold were piled up in the kitchen, and police described the overall conditions as horrifying.
The discovery was made on Friday when police and firefighters responded to a medical call at the home, which is located more than 200 miles northwest of Little Rock. Five other disabled adults, also adopted by Whitten, were found living in the same deplorable conditions. According to court documents, one of the adult children was walking around in a diaper that appeared to be full. Police noted piles of used diapers on the floor, along with dog feces and trash.
In Caterina’s room, officers found her lifeless body on a bed. She was wearing a blue shirt and a diaper. Her position on the bed appeared unnatural, leading investigators to suspect the scene might have been staged. In another bedroom, police discovered blood on the wall, a bed, and dried brown stains on the mattress and surrounding areas. As a result, a rape kit was ordered to rule out foul play.
The medical examiner reported that Caterina was severely malnourished and had suffered cockroach bites on her head. There was also an abrasion on her forehead. These findings painted a grim picture of the neglect she had endured.
When questioned by police, David Whitten claimed Caterina had been healthy for a long time and did not take medication. He said that on Christmas Day, she “sunk to the floor and wouldn’t move.” He described past instances where she would stop eating and lose weight, saying he would give her calorie-boosting drinks to help her recover. He claimed she had been improving in the days before her death but stopped getting up from her bed. On the night before she died, he said he gave her some milk and thought she was making progress, but the next morning, she wasn’t breathing, so he called 911.
The other adults in the house were hospitalized following intervention by adult protective services. They were later cleared medically, but the living conditions raised serious concerns about their well-being.
David Whitten was arrested and booked into the Benton County Jail but was later released on a $25,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on February 10 to face the charges against him.
This case has left the community and authorities deeply saddened and shocked. Benton County Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Joshua Robinson expressed the same feelings, saying it’s heartbreaking to see anyone living in such terrible conditions, let alone losing their life in this way.
