Kaylea Titford’s parents ‘killed her by letting her weight increase in a maggot-infested room’
Two parents have killed their 16-year-old daughter by letting her weight climb to 23 stone during the Covid lockdown, a court heard today.
Schoolgirl Kaylea Titford, who suffered from spina bifida and had to use a wheelchair, was reportedly neglected by her father Alun Titford and mother Sarah Lloyd-Jones and allowed to become morbidly obese in their filthy, maggot-infested room during the pandemic.
A court heard that Kaylea used to be “extremely independent,” even attending physical education classes at school in her wheelchair.
But her parents are accused of allowing her to gain weight dramatically and her health to deteriorate when they left her alone in her adapted room.
She was found dead in October 2020, “living in inhumane conditions,” the court heard.
Kaylea Titford was reportedly neglected and allowed to become morbidly obese
Father Alun Titford, 45, has been charged with manslaughter after his daughter was found dead in her bed
Kaylea reportedly had not seen a doctor in the nine months leading up to her death, despite a series of health issues.
Titford, 45, is charged with manslaughter and causing or allowing the death of a child.
Lloyd-Jones, 39, has admitted his guilt and pleaded guilty to the same charges.
Prosecutor Caroline Rees KC said that at the time of her death in October 2020, Kaylea was “living in conditions not suitable for animals” and was being forced to use “puppy pads” to go to the bathroom on her urine-soaked floor.
Ms Rees said: “She lived and died in misery and humiliation.”
Mold Crown Court in North Wales heard Kaylea’s parents failed in their “duty of care” to help her exercise and eat healthy – and kept her clean and “medically safe”.
Ms Rees said Kaylea weighed 22.9 at the time of her death and was “morbidly obese” with a BMI of 70.
The average BMI reading for a 16-year-old girl is about 20, according to the CDC.
Ms Rees said: “Alun Titford was unable to ensure Kaylea’s nutritional needs were met, leading to morbid obesity.”
She said Kaylea did not have her nails trimmed for six months before her death and that “adult” maggots were found inside her body around her buttocks and legs.
Ms Rees said: “These maggots were there in life and in death.
“Not only were their living conditions poor, but their physical condition was terrible.”
The jury was told that there were more than 100 flies on flypaper in Kaylea’s room and traces of fly droppings on her chair jack.
Her hair was also matted and Kaylea – who needed help with everyday chores – hadn’t been washed in “several weeks”.
Ms Rees said: “It must be clear that it was a grave dereliction of duty to her that she have allowed her to fall into such a physical condition.”
Kaylea was found dead in bed at her home in Newtown, Powys, by mother Lloyd-Jones on October 10, 2020.
Mold Crown Court heard Kaylea’s mother (pictured) and father failed to do their “duty of care” to keep her healthy and clean
A court heard that Kaylea used to be “extremely independent,” even attending high school physical education classes in her wheelchair
Her parents are accused of allowing her to dramatically gain weight and deteriorate when they left her alone in her adapted room
Ms Rees said when police arrived one officer was “almost nauseous” from seeing and smelling unwashed feces in her bathroom and a paramedic could smell “rotting flesh” as he entered the bedroom.
Ms Rees said: “After her body was removed officers were able to see the condition of the bed, which was infested with maggots and had an overwhelming smell of ammonia.”
Ms Rees said Titford claimed to be “shocked” by the death of his daughter and that Kaylea was Lloyd-Jones’ responsibility.
She said: “The duty of care rested on both of them and prosecutors say he should have known or should have known of the environment in which she slept and ate and the physically degrading state she was in.
“He lived in that house, so he must have known, and he didn’t do anything about it, prosecutors say, and then he can’t wash his hands.”
Titford, from Newtown, Powys, sat still the whole time, wearing black trousers and a black coat.
He denies manslaughter and causing or allowing the death of a child.
The process, which could take up to four weeks, continues.
https://www.soundhealthandlastingwealth.com/covid-19/kaylea-titfords-parents-killed-her-by-allowing-her-weight-to-balloon-in-maggot-infested-room/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kaylea-titfords-parents-killed-her-by-allowing-her-weight-to-balloon-in-maggot-infested-room Kaylea Titford’s parents ‘killed her by letting her weight increase in a maggot-infested room’