Inset: Richard McClintic (Sacramento police). Background: McClintic's apartment in the 2000 block of San Juan Road in Sacramento, California, where cops found him dead (Google Maps).
A California woman killed a 59-year-old man with cerebral palsy she was supposed to be caring for and then tried to conceal his death, according to authorities.
The victim, Richard McClintic, was reported missing from his apartment in the 2000 block of San Juan Road on Oct. 25 after family members could not get in touch with him. Cops conducted a welfare check that day but could not find him.
On Nov. 6, police executed a search warrant at the apartment where they found McClintic dead inside. Detectives arrested Christina Cowens, his 41-year-old caregiver, on charges of unlawful disposal of human remains, grand theft and attempt to conceal a death.
After conducting an autopsy, police added charges of homicide and additional fraud-related offenses. Cops have not publicly divulged the cause of death nor have they stated a potential motive.
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Brandon Klagenberg, McClintic's nephew, told local NBC affiliate KCRA they would regularly speak with him but that changed after his sister's death. They could not get in touch with him and then they started to receive messages from his Facebook account that didn't sound like him, Klagenberg said.
Concerned, family went over to his apartment but Cowens answered the door and wouldn't let them inside.
That's when the family contacted police, which started investigating as a missing persons case until finding his body. Klagenberg said Cowens has been caring for his uncle, who has little control over the right side of his body, for years. But family members grew wary of her when she wouldn't let them see him, making them think she may have harmed him.
"This is what we expected all along," he told KCRA.
McClintic loved sports, particularly the Pittsburgh Steelers, and although he needed help to get around was pretty independent, his nephew told local ABC affiliate KXTV.
"This is the will of somebody who is extremely resilient and overcome his conditions in life, and didn't let that bring his entire world down," Klagenberg said.
Now the family is grappling with the question of why someone would hurt their loved one.
"To know that someone is capable of doing this to a disabled person in my uncle's condition is just outrageous," Klagenberg said.
Cowens is slated to return to court on Nov. 24.
