Shasta Vantassel, a 40-year-old woman from Tionesta, is facing neglect and endangerment charges after her elderly mother, Ruth Vantassel, was found dead in deplorable conditions in their home. Shasta, who worked as a night aide at a nursing home, discovered her mother unresponsive on April 6 and called 911. Police found Ruth sitting in a recliner for weeks without being moved, surrounded by feces, urine, and maggots, in a house infested with flies and strong odors. Ruth died of bilateral acute pneumonia. Shasta is charged with felony neglect, endangerment, simple assault, harassment, and disorderly conduct, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for August 20.
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