Havertown woman charged with neglect, death of her mother

HAVERTOWN, Pa. (WPVI) -- A woman has been charged with the death of her 83-year-old mother in Delaware County.

Fifty-eight-year-old Ellen Gottlieb of Havertown was arrested Tuesday morning.

Gottlieb was charged with the neglect of a care-dependent person, aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter.

Her bail was set Tuesday at $250,000 cash.

It is alleged that when social workers and police responded to the family home in January 2018 they found the victim who suffered from dementia, covered in feces and had numerous and significant skin sores and ulcers

Its believed those conditions were the by-product of neglect.

Authorities say Gottlieb had earlier removed her mother from a nursing home months before where she received proper care.

In announcing the arrest Delaware County District Attorney Katayoun Copeland said, "This is a tragic case where a mother was inhumanely treated by her daughter." She said Gottlieb left her mother " to die due to lack of basic care."

According to court records, it is also alleged that Gottlieb who had control of her mothers finances misappropriated more than $110,000.

It is alleged she spent more than $88,000 on unauthorized purchases, while not paying for her mother's nursing home care.

Jodi Gold who has known Ellen Gottlieb since childhood says she thinks the 58-year-old was overwhelmed trying to care for her mother who in the past had stated she did not want to go to a nursing home.

Gold said, "She did her best to take care of her mother, respecting her mother's wishes."