An Indiana man who was caring for his elderly mother was accused by police of starving her to death.
Randy Halton, 51, was arrested on suspicion of allowing his mother, Sandra Halton, to become so malnourished before her death that she was “literally skin and bones,” according to court documents obtained by WXIN, a local Fox affiliate.
Sandra Halton, whose age was not given, was discovered dead by her son on the morning of December 5, 2024. He called for help, and officers arrived at their home in Greencastle, about 50 miles southwest of Indianapolis, where they discovered Sandra Halton dead in her bedroom, having taken on a “mummified appearance.”
According to court documents, Randy Halton told police that his mother had several health issues, though only a thyroid problem was mentioned. The seemingly frail woman was apparently having dietary issues and wasn’t eating, including the night before her son discovered her dead.
An autopsy revealed that malnutrition was the cause of her death. According to the report, Sandra Halton died without any solid food in her digestive system. When a bandage was removed from her skin during the autopsy, her skin appears to have come off.
Randy Halton told police that he tried to get his mother to eat and drink before assisting her into bed around 6 p.m. on the day she was discovered dead. He reportedly stated that he intended to take his mother to the hospital in the morning.
As the investigation into Sandra Halton’s death progressed, detectives learned that her doctor had not heard from her or her son since February. Even at the time, her doctor reported that she was malnourished and anemic, weighing 105 pounds. According to court documents, the doctor stated that after viewing Sandra Halton’s deceased body, it appeared that she had undergone “significant deterioration” since her February visit.
When asked why he never brought his mother back to the doctor, Randy Halton reportedly replied, “They had not called.”
Those who knew the Haltons also claimed that Randy Halton was attempting to conceal his mother’s death. According to court documents, the ex-partner of a Halton relative told police that Randy Halton informed one family member about Sandra Halton’s death but told them to “keep [their] f—ing mouth shut.”
The relative who received the command told police that they “didn’t understand why Randy didn’t call for help, and that he didn’t have to care for Sandra alone.” Randy Halton, according to court documents, had been caring for his mother for “several years.”
According to the documents, Randy Halton claimed that his mother “seemed fine” while admitting, “I know she looked bad and horrible.”
Randy Halton has not yet faced any formal charges.
