Penn Hills couple sentenced in starvation of disabled man

A Penn Hills couple were both sentenced to between seven and 14 years in prison for the 2015 death of a disabled man in their care.

Pamela McNeal, 59, and Adam Haynes, 49, were convicted of the death of 54-year-old David Fuhrman, whom they cared for for 15 years before he died on Nov. 24, 2015.

Mr. Fuhrman, who the defendants said functioned as a 5-yearold, weighed 76 pounds — about half his normal weight — when he was found dead in the couple’s home. He suffered from bed sores and was sleeping on a plastic sheet. The couple continued to collect Mr. Fuhrman’s Social Security payments during his decline, which lasted several months.

McNeal and Haynes pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, neglect, conspiracy and reckless endangerment.

Mr. Fuhrman’s sister, Barbara Laface, cried as she read a statement to the court during Wednesday’s sentencing hearing before Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Donna Jo McDaniel.

“My brother died at the careless and selfish hands of these monsters,” she said. She asked for the maximum possible

sentence.

About six months before his death, Haynes told police, he suspected Mr. Fuhrman had a stroke; the man could no longer eat. Mr. Haynes said he told his wife he believed Mr. Fuhrman needed to see a doctor, but his wife was against it, and he never did.

Both Haynes and McNeal apologized for their actions before they were sentenced.

“I’m sorry,” Haynes said. “I wish I would have done more.”

“I’m sorry for their loss,” his wife said. “I wish I would have asked for help.”

Judge McDaniel said she believes Haynes and McNeal feel remorse for their actions. She recommended that McNeal be housed in a geriatric facility because of her various health problems and she prohibited the couple from ever caring for someone again.