Son charged in elder abuse case

Police say man allowed 85-year-old mother to live in squalid conditions

NORTH CANAAN — A local man was charged with cruelty to persons Monday after State Police found his mother living in deplorable conditions under his care at the family home in February, according to an arrest warrant.

James Madsen, 64, of Clayton Road, North Canaan, was held overnight on $50,000 bond after being taken into custody Monday.

Madsen was one of the primary caregivers for his 85-year-old mother, Catherine Madsen, who family members said wanted to die at home, according to an arrest warrant.

She died the next day after troopers called for EMS to bring to Sharon Hospital, the warrant said.

Catherine Madsen's granddaughters arrived at Troop B on Feb. 24 after discovering their grandmother was lying in a pool of urine and had bed sores throughout her body, reports said.

Troopers arrived at the Clayton Road address to find Catherine Madsen non-verbal and in dire condition, police said.

There was no heat or running water at the address, police said.

Her son, James Madsen who also lived in the home, appeared to be drunk and delusional, when questioned by police, the warrant said.

Catherine Madsen was suffering from heart failure and dementia, but she wanted to die at home so she had left a skilled nursing facility to return to her home on Clayton Road, family members said. The home was often in disarray because their grandfather was a hoarder, but Catherine Madsen was used to the conditions, they said.

James Madsen and his sister, who at one point also lived in the home were their mother's primary caregivers, according to the warrant.

The sister told police that the heat stopped working due to a burst pipe a few days before and

that she moved out because she often fought with her brother.

Police and medical staff at Sharon Hospital found Catherine Madsen had bed sores throughout much of her body and her skin was growing fungus, according to the warrant.

The two granddaughters and their stepmother tried to clean Catherine Madsen up with water they had to bring in, the warrant said. The two granddaughters went to police in the hopes of getting their grandmother medical help. They stayed with their grandmother until she passed away at Sharon Hospital the next day, reports said.

Madsen was held on $50,000 bond overnight and is expected to be arraigned today in Torrington Superior Court.

Madsen