Loretta Harris, 46, pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of Tylim Hatchett, a 21-year-old Upper Dublin Township man with cerebral palsy, as well as receiving $12,000 in payments between February 17 and September 18, 2024, for care that she never provided, The Reporter said.

Harris, who was Hatchett’s caretaker, received felony charges of endangering the welfare of a care-dependent person, theft by deception, and conspiracy to commit theft. She faces a possible maximum sentence of 10.5 to 21 years in prison.

Hatchett’s mother, Sherrilynn Hawkins, 43, of the 1100 block of Market Street in Dresher, was arrested in December. She faces a November jury trial on charges of first- and third-degree murder, neglect of a care-dependent person, abuse of a care-dependent person, theft and conspiracy to commit theft, The Reporter said.

If convicted of first-degree murder, Hawkins faces life imprisonment.

The victim’s father, Vernon Hatchett, also known as Khaliyl Ward, 40, of Glenside, is charged with neglect of care of a dependent person, abuse of care of a dependent person and conspiracy to commit involuntary manslaughter. An arrest warrant was issued for Hatchett in January.

In April, officials increased the reward purse for information leading to his arrest. So far, he has not been found and is considered a dangerous individual, according to Montgomery County’s district attorney.

An investigation began when Upper Dublin Police responded to an apartment complex in Dresher for the report of an unresponsive person. When officers arrived, they found Tylim Hatchett severely emaciated and lying on the floor. Vernon Hatchett was at the scene and told officers he found his son at 6:00pm, almost two hours prior to a 911 call on his behalf.

Tylim Hatchett was pronounced deceased at the scene, the report said.

An autopsy was conducted on September 19 by a forensic pathologist at the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office. The cause of death was found to be complications of Cerebral Palsy in the setting of neglect and was ruled a homicide.

Upper Dublin Police Department and the Montgomery County Detective Bureau conducted a joint investigation which found that from February to September 18, Tylim Hatchett had lost 31 pounds, dropping from 90 pounds to 59 pounds in approximately seven months. The investigation also found that Hawkins and Harris both were receiving money and submitting hours to Aveanna Healthcare to be compensated for the time they were not caring for Tylim Hatchett.

A review of cell phone records found that Hawkins and Harris would “clock in” as a caretaker for Tylim Hatchett at times they were not actively with him, leaving him alone for upwards of 24 hours at a time. Between September 1 and September 18, Tylim Hatchett was left in the apartment by himself for 356 of the 425 hours, translating to 82% of the time within those 18 days, the District Attorney said.

Medical records for Tylim Hatchett found through Aveanna Healthcare listed several medications he was meant to take daily, prepared and provided by a caregiver as Tylim Hatchett was unable to self-medicate. The investigation revealed that Harris had not provided him any medications when she visited.

Throughout September, Hawkins messaged Vernon Hatchett multiple times about their son’s deteriorating health yet continued to leave him alone without providing him food or medicine.

All three defendants have been charged with Neglect of a Care-Dependent Person. Hawkins is also charged with First-Degree Murder, Third-Degree Murder, Theft by Deception and related charges; Vernon Hatchett is also charged with Involuntary Manslaughter; Harris is also charged with Theft by Deception.

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Photos: Montco DA