A 70-year-old man from North Carolina has been convicted of second-degree murder and neglect of a disabled adult leading to severe injury, in connection with his wife’s death. The prosecution disclosed that the man failed to act while his wife, who was incapacitated and immobile, lay on their home’s floor for more than six months. During this period, her bed sores became infested with insects, exacerbating her declining health.
The man, identified as Louis Kornhaber, was found guilty on Friday, as per a statement from the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office. Superior Court Judge Matthew J. Osman sentenced Kornhaber to a prison term of 94 to 125 months, which translates to seven years and 10 months to 10 years and five months. The time Kornhaber has already spent in jail, totaling 1,351 days, will be deducted from his sentence.
Kornhaber’s wife, Bonnie, had been discharged from the hospital on October 6, 2020, following treatment for a medical condition that left her wheelchair-bound. Kornhaber had used a belt to secure her to her chair. However, she eventually slipped from her chair and became immobilized on the floor, where she remained for six to eight months, according to the prosecution.
On June 4, 2021, Bonnie informed her husband that she was having trouble breathing. Instead of seeking medical help, Kornhaber opted to watch television for several hours. When he finally went to check on her, he found her unresponsive and not breathing, which led him to call 911.
First responders arrived to a distressing scene. Bonnie Kornhaber was found deceased, lying on a pile of garbage and surrounded by spoiled food. The house was described by detectives as a “hoarder house.” The prosecution pointed out that Bonnie was covered in her own waste, with extensive sores and insects infesting many of her open bed sores.
Kornhaber admitted to detectives that he had avoided calling 911 for months due to the embarrassment he and his wife felt about the state of their home. Following his wife’s death, Kornhaber was arrested and has remained in jail since. After a four-day trial, a jury found him guilty.