Police said the woman appeared to have been dead for days inside a house packed with trash.
DEL CITY, Okla. — A Del City man was arrested on complaints of second-degree murder and caretaker abuse after police found his 70-year-old mother dead in her bed inside a house described in reports as filthy and blocked by piles of trash, authorities said.
The arrest comes as investigators try to determine how long the woman had been dead, what care she received in her final days and whether neglect played a role. Police have not publicly identified the woman or her son in official briefings and said the investigation remains active while the case moves through the complaint stage toward possible formal charges.
Police were called to a home on Ina Mae Avenue near Mistletoe Avenue after the woman’s adult son dialed 911 and reported he needed help, according to a police report summarized by local media. Officers who entered the house described it as being in disarray, with trash, clothing and other items scattered across the floor in multiple rooms. In the bedroom where the woman was found, an officer wrote that the floor was covered by about 2 feet of trash, clothing and miscellaneous items, leaving no clear walkway to the bed in the center of the room. The woman was found in that bed, and officers believed she had been dead for several days before she was discovered.
Investigators said the son told officers he had been his mother’s primary caretaker for about nine years and had lived with her during that time. He said he checked on her daily and had spoken with her on Saturday, the report said. He also told police he checked on her Sunday and saw that she was breathing. When officers asked what happened Monday, the man said he checked on his mother and believed she was sleeping, the report said. Police did not release further details about what prompted the 911 call later in the week, and authorities did not immediately say whether the woman had been receiving outside medical care.
During a search of the residence, an officer found multiple insufficient-funds statements in the woman’s name, along with a notice from the Social Security Administration related to a disapproved claim that was addressed to the son, the report said. Police have not said whether those documents are central to the case or simply items collected during the initial scene review. The report did not publicly detail a cause of death, and investigators did not immediately say whether an autopsy had been completed or what results may show. Del City police declined to provide additional comment in the days immediately after the discovery, according to published accounts.
The man was taken into custody on complaints of second-degree murder and caretaker abuse, according to the police report. A complaint arrest means investigators believe they have probable cause to hold a suspect while a case is reviewed by prosecutors, but formal charges are filed later, often after additional evidence is collected and reviewed. Police did not say Thursday whether the man had retained an attorney or when prosecutors might decide whether to file charges in court.
Neighbors and others in the area of Ina Mae Avenue described the street as generally quiet, and the visible police presence drew attention as patrol cars and investigators came and went. Some residents said they had not seen the woman outside recently and were surprised to learn officers believed she may have been dead for days. Investigators have not said whether anyone other than the son lived at the house or whether others had regular contact with the woman in the days before she was found.
Authorities have not released a timeline of the woman’s last confirmed contact with people outside the home, and police have not said whether they received previous reports tied to the address. Investigators typically document conditions at a death scene, gather medications and medical equipment if present, and interview relatives, neighbors and anyone involved in care. Police have not said whether the woman was bedridden, had known medical conditions or required specialized care, but the son told officers he served as her primary caretaker for years, according to the report.
In the coming days, the case is expected to move through routine steps that often follow a complaint arrest in a death investigation: booking into jail, an initial court appearance, a bond decision and review by the district attorney’s office for possible charges. Police have not announced a public briefing or a date for any hearing tied to the case, and they have not said when they might release the names of those involved. Investigators also have not said what evidence, if any, they are waiting on, such as autopsy findings, toxicology testing or additional interviews.
For now, officials have emphasized only the limited facts included in the initial report: a woman was found dead in her bed, officers believed she had been dead for days, the home was cluttered with heavy trash buildup and her son, who said he was her caretaker, was arrested on complaints related to the death. The investigation remains open as authorities work to determine what happened inside the home and whether criminal charges will follow.
Author note: Last updated March 1, 2026.