Blind 21-year-old weighing 59 pounds died of neglect, PA cops say. Mom convicted
A blind 21-year-old man with cerebral palsy was found lying on the floor of his home shortly before his September 2024 death, Pennsylvania authorities say.
Having lost 31 pounds over the course of seven months, Tylim Hatchett weighed just 59 pounds, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said in a news release.
“He starved to death in this apartment and was lying on the floor when the police came. This is a horrible death,” Steele told KYW of Hatchett, who was also deaf and required a wheelchair.
His parents, who officials said were his caretakers, had neglected him, according to the district attorney
Sherrilynn Hawkins received payments through Aveanna Healthcare to provide care for her son, but more often than not, he was left alone in the home, officials said.
From Sept. 1 to Sept. 18, the 21-year-old was by himself for 356 hours of a possible 425 hours, according to the district attorney.
Over that time, Hawkins is accused of receiving more than $2,000 from the health care company, KYW reported.
The year before, she was paid $36,383 to care for her blind son, records show, according to PhillyBurbs.com.
Tylim Hatchett was supposed to take daily medications, but officials said his mother did not give him the medicine when she visited him.
“Throughout September, Hawkins messaged Vernon Hatchett multiple times about their son’s deteriorating health yet continued to leave him alone without providing him food or medicine,” according to a news release in December, when the parents faced charges.
Officials said Vernon Hatchett discovered his unresponsive son Sept. 18, but he waited nearly two hours to call 911. Tylim Hatchett was pronounced dead at the scene, the district attorney said.
On Dec. 31, officials announced the arrest of Hawkins and another caretaker, Loretta Harris, who were both charged with neglect of a care-dependent person.
Hawkins, 43, also faced charges of first-degree murder and third-degree murder, among others, the district attorney said.
On Oct. 20, she pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, neglect of a care-dependent person, theft by deception and conspiracy to commit theft by deception, according to Steele. She was sentenced to 25 to 50 years in prison.
An attorney listed for Hawkins could not immediately be reached for a request for comment Oct. 21 by McClatchy News.
Vernon Hatchett, meanwhile, has not been captured.
The district attorney’s office announced Oct. 20 a $7,500 reward for the capture of the 40-year-old man, who is wanted for neglect of a care-dependent person resulting in death.
This story was originally published October 21, 2025 at 12:07 PM with the headline "Blind 21-year-old weighing 59 pounds died of neglect, PA cops say. Mom convicted."