Sayegh

HOLLIDAYSBURG — A Williams­burg woman charged for her care-de­­pen­­­dent mother’s death pleaded guilty rather than go ahead with the first day of her jury trial Tuesday after extensive medical records were obtained by the District Attorney’s Office late Monday evening.

Colleen Rose Sayegh, 38, pleaded guilty to felony neglect of a care dependent person in exchange for 15 months to 18 years in a state correctional facility. Her remaining charges of felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor involuntary manslaughter and simple assault were dismissed.

The trial failed to move forward Tuesday morning when the court was made aware that District Attorney Pete Weeks and First Assistant District Attorney Nichole Smith had received a 133-page report from Geisinger Health the previous evening.

Weeks explained he met with a witness, a doctor with Geisinger, early last week and that they expressed the need to have their reports while testifying so they could “refresh their recollection.” He submitted a request for the records to Geisinger and sent four subpoenas but didn’t get a response until Monday afternoon, Weeks said.

Defense attorney Tyler Rowles told presiding Judge Jackie Atherton Bernard that he and fellow defense attorney Jordan DeLeo didn’t receive the report from the DA’s Office until about 9 p.m.

Bernard then gave the attorneys until 2:30 p.m. to review the records to the best of their abilities and ascertain if their contents would drastically change their strategies in presenting their cases.

Once back in court, Smith told Bernard that the 133-page document didn’t contain a specific report discussed with the witness in June, so another request was sent to Geisinger during the recess. Geisinger then sent a document totaling more than 700 additional pages.

Smith said the witness was able to summarize some of what was in the document, but that other portions of it included people from other departments.

Rowles said, in light of these extensive new documents, he spoke with the prosecution and Sayegh and that they were able to reach a plea agreement to resolve the case rather than reschedule the jury trial.

While the court would normally refuse to accept a negotiated plea agreement the day of trial, Bernard said there were “exceptional circumstances at play” in this case.

When asked by Bernard if there was anything in the documents that might exculpate Sayegh, Rowles said the “information wasn’t necessarily complete” it “had things that could be detrimental to her case.”

Bernard said that while she would accept the plea agreement of 15 months to 18 years, there would be additional conditions imposed in her sentence due to the nature of the charge to which Sayegh was pleading guilty. She also noted that the statutory maximum sentence Sayegh could receive if she proceeded with a jury trial was 20 years in prison.

Prior to sentencing, Sayegh was brought to stand next to Rowles at a podium before Bernard. Following discussion of the plea deal, Bernard asked for a chair to be given to Sayegh, as she appeared to be in pain. Sayegh explained that she had rheumatoid arthritis in her back, legs and joints. Bernard then asked if Sayegh had received treatment for the arthritis and if she was on any medication for it, to which Sayegh said yes.

In handing down her sentence, Bernard addressed these factors again by questioning if Sayegh understood the difference in care she sought out and provided for herself and that she provided for her mother.

“She kept refusing treatment,” Sayegh said.

Bernard told Sayegh that “is a lie” and her mother was only capable of saying “yes” or “no,” to which Sayegh attempted to interrupt and say “and a few other words.”

“Your actions are selfish,” Bernard said. “You chose to take care of yourself and your own medical needs while you left your mother to rot.”

Bernard told Sayegh “we don’t even treat animals like this” and that was why she would be including an order for her to be prohibited from owning or taking care of a pet once she is released on supervision. Sayegh then started to cry.

In addition to the 15 months to 18 years in a state correctional facility, Bernard ordered Sayegh to pay a $100 fine and undergo a mental health evaluation. She is also barred from gaining employment that would put her in charge of care-dependent or vulnerable individuals, including those under the age of 18, is prohibited from living with care-dependent and vulnerable individuals and is not permitted to own or care for any animal, pet “or living thing,” Bernard said. Sayegh also received credit for time served since Jan. 8.

While Sayegh’s guilty plea to felony neglect does not bar her from owning a firearm at the state level, Bernard noted there may be federal laws prohibiting her from doing so.

The charges against Sayegh were brought following a yearslong investigation into the death of her mother, for whom she was the primary caregiver. Police were first contacted by hospital staff in July 2022, when the victim was taken to Conemaugh Nason Medical Center for treatment. Hospital staff told officers the victim was suffering from severe dehydration, had extremely low blood pressure, was covered in urine and feces and had several open wounds and sores, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

The victim, who was wheelchair-bound, also showed signs of a recent stroke and had to be flown to Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown. Officers were later informed that the victim had died at the hospital, the police report stated.

Before the victim passed away, officers searched her Woodbury Township residence and found it in deplorable condition. Officers noted smelling a foul odor and reported the home was littered with feces.

Officers spoke with Sayegh, the victim’s daughter, while at the residence, and it was confirmed that the victim suffered a stroke about one year prior, in 2021. Sayegh said the victim was in her care after spending a short amount of time in a nursing home, but had “taken a turn for the worse” and was unable to fully communicate with her, court documents state.

Sayegh admitted to officers that she had not bathed the victim in “months” and said it had been over a year since the victim had seen a doctor. An autopsy report later showed the victim died from a severe infection caused by the multiple sores and wounds hospital staff found on her body. The victim was also reported to be diabetic, making her more susceptible to infections, according to the affidavit.

Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor-Musselman is at 814-946-7458.