Mother from hell neglected son so badly his legs rotted off, police say
Catiga Wren Arnett, 54, was arrested on July 16 for the abuse of an elderly, disabled or vulnerable person after police found her adopted son, who has Spina bifida, allegedly enduring heinous conditions, according to court documents reviewed by Daily Mail.
Her son, who has the mental capacity of a 10-year-old, lived with Arnett in Noel - about five hours from Kansas City - where the reported neglect occurred between January 1 and March 7, records revealed.
Her child's age was not mentioned in the legal filing, but his condition - a birth defect that causes the spinal cord not to close completely during pregnancy - has 'rendered him a paraplegic,' court documents said.
Paramedics were called to Arnett's home on March 7 where they found her son on his bedroom floor wearing only an adult diaper, per the report.
Authorities also saw 'extensive decubitus,' or bedsores, that were 'readily visible on his legs and other parts of his body,' the filing read. His 'bone and tendon were visible' as well.
Authorities also noted he had a colostomy bag port, 'but the bag was not present,' the filing stated.
Her child also had a catheter with an empty bag filled with calcified residue, suggesting he 'had not urinated for an extended period.'
After her son was found, he was transported to Freeman Hospital and the Missouri Orthopedic Institute in Columbia, court documents stated.
The victim's severe injuries ultimately resulted in him needing a double amputation of his legs, the filing showed.
Arnett pleaded guilty on July 10 in McDonald County Circuit Court.
When Daily Mail contacted her listed public defender, they said they 'do not currently represent this individual.'
Her bond was set at $2,500 under the condition that she appears in court, follows court orders, does not commit new offenses and does not tamper with witnesses or victims.
Arnett is due back in court for a bond review hearing on August 13, per her records.
This is not her first time in trouble with the law, as past court records revealed Arnett has several traffic violations, records showed.
She also pleaded guilty in 2022 to a miscellaneous health and safety charge, which refers to various violations that endanger or could potentially endanger the health and safety of others.
It is unclear exactly what the details of her charge are.
Arnett's husband, Steve Arnett, was arrested in April 2023 for strangling and kicking a child.
According to court records, he was sentenced to two counts of probation for endangering the welfare of a child in the second degree.
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