MANSFIELD — Mansfield Police announced the arrest of Jennifer K. Sweat on Friday night in connection with the death of a 77-year-old woman discovered on Oct. 23.
After consulting with the Richland County Prosecutor Gary Bishop, authorities decided to charge Sweat with one count of “Involuntary manslaughter” a first-degree felony and one count of “Failing to provide for a functionally impaired person” a fourth-degree felony.
She was arrested and transported to the Richland County jail.
“This was a horrific scene that the Officers and Coroner’s office personnel were subjected to, a terrible loss of life to one of our citizens in the Mansfield community” stated Lt. Robert Skropits.
The Mansfield Division of Police Major Crimes Unit received an autopsy report in connection with the suspicious death, and that led to the arrest.
In a press release, Skropits said officers were called to an address on 2nd Ave. in Mansfield for a deceased person. Patrol officers called for a Major Crimes Detective and the Coroner once they saw the victim, inside the residence. Authorities say they located the victim, a 77-year-old female, in an upstairs bedroom. She was deceased and she looked to be very emaciated.
The Coroner’s office took the body and sent it to the Montgomery County, Ohio Coroner’s office for an autopsy. The Richland County Coroner’s office received a preliminary report from Montgomery and reported that it showed issues of neglect.
A more detailed report will be available when the complete autopsy findings are done.
