A North Carolina man, Louis Kornhaber, was convicted of allowing his wife, Bonnie Kornhaber, to die after she remained immobile on their home’s floor for months following a fall, a jury ruled on February 28.

Louis, 70, from Charlotte, was found guilty of the neglect-related death of his wife, 66-year-old Bonnie, in 2021, according to the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office.

Bonnie had been discharged from a hospital visit in October 2020 when her husband restrained her in a wheelchair. At some point, she fell and was unable to get up. Despite her condition, Kornhaber neglected to call for medical assistance. Later, he admitted that he was too ashamed of their home’s condition to involve emergency responders.

For approximately six to eight months, Bonnie remained on the floor without aid. Then, on June 4, 2021, she informed her husband that she was struggling to breathe. Instead of assisting her, he chose to watch television in another room. Hours later, he found her unresponsive.

Louis Kornhaber finally contacted 911, but it was too late. When emergency personnel arrived, they found Bonnie deceased, surrounded by decayed food and trash. Officials reported that she had suffered severe neglect, covered in waste and extensive bed sores, many of which had become infested with insects.

Authorities described the couple’s residence as a hoarder’s home, filled with debris and unlivable conditions. The disturbing scene underscored the depth of Bonnie’s suffering before her death.

After four days of deliberation, the jury convicted Kornhaber of second-degree murder and neglect of a disabled or elderly adult, leading to serious physical injury. He was sentenced to a minimum of seven years and ten months in prison, with a maximum sentence of ten years and five months for his role in his wife’s tragic demise.

#Clique, what are your thoughts?