Lakeland, Florida – Polk County Sheriff’s Homicide detectives served a warrant today (July 10, 2013) on 45-year-old Janet Wade Stevens of Weber Street in Lakeland, who has been in the Polk County Jail since April, charging her with Aggravated Manslaughter of a Disabled Adult in the death of her 22-year-old son Michael. The warrant was obtained through charges direct-filed by the State Attorney’s Office.
Janet has been in the Polk County Jail since April 2013, when PCSO Homicide detectives arrested her for Tampering With Evidence, Aggravated Abuse of a Disabled Adult, and Exploitation of a Disabled Adult. According to the affidavit, PCSO deputies responded to the Stevens’ home for the death investigation of 22-year-old Michael Stevens, who was born mentally challenged, non-verbal, and with Epilepsy. The investigation revealed that Janet, who was Michael’s primary caregiver, had not taken Michael to the doctor in over a year and had not had his prescription Phenobarbital (for Epilepsy) filled in over a year. She admitted to deputies at that time that she had not changed his adult diapers or taken him out of his bedroom in at least two days.
According to the affidavit “State Attorney Jerry Hill charges that Janet Wade Stevens, on or about April 1, 2013, being a caregiver of Michael Stevens, a disabled adult, caused the death of Michael Stevens by culpable negligence by failing or omitting to provide the victim with the care, supervision, and services necessary to maintain the physical and mental health, including but not limited to, food, nutrition, clothing, shelter, supervision, medicine, and medical services that a prudent would consider essential for his well-being.”
After an autopsy was conducted and toxicology reports were returned back to the Medical Examiner and the State Attorney’s Office, the SAO direct-filed an additional charge of Manslaughter against Janet Stevens in this case.