By admin 
MESA, AZ (AZFamily) — A Mesa man is accused of leaving his disabled adult son in a bathtub for weeks. The victim was described in court documents as “extremely emaciated” and found with severe wounds.
Melvin Shimkus, 52, was booked on one count of vulnerable adult abuse and is being held on a $12,000 bond.
Warning: Details of this story may be graphic. Reader discretion is advised.
What officers found
Shortly before 10 p.m. Monday, Mesa officers were called to a home near Gilbert Road and Pueblo Avenue, north of Southern Avenue, after a 911 caller reported that Hunter Shimkus, 31, had been in a bathtub for seven weeks and was covered in feces.
Officers entered the bathroom and were met with a “strong, pungent odor” resembling “rotting meat and feces,” according to court documents. Inside the tub, they found Hunter appearing “extremely emaciated.” Small ropes were holding his right leg, and his right foot was “extremely deformed,” police said.
Court documents state Hunter’s right knee was bent at a 90-degree angle in the opposite direction, his muscles appeared to be gone, and he had open sores throughout his body.
Court documents also state Hunter had a nerve disease that prevented him from walking and limited the use of his hands.
“He clearly suffered from severe, severe neglect,” an investigator said. “The neglect was extreme that it caused significant, possible permanent injuries to the victim.”
What Shimkus told police
Shimkus told police that Hunter was his son, whom he had been caring for over the past year. He said he had placed Hunter in the tub a week earlier and, when he checked on him that day, found one of his legs bent in the opposite direction. Shimkus said he offered to take Hunter to the hospital, but Hunter refused multiple times, according to court documents.
Police say Shimkus was the only person caring for Hunter, though the two had been living at the home with two other family members. Court documents state Shimkus told those family members that Hunter’s leg was bent the wrong way and that he could smell feces coming from the bathroom.
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What family members said
A family member told police Hunter had been in the tub since May 16 — the last time authorities were called to the home. At that time, court documents state Hunter refused medical attention and had not left the tub since.
Hunter’s aunt, Carol Scofield, who also lived at the home, said the family repeatedly tried to get Hunter medical care but that he refused.
“Everything was done that we could do,” Scofield said.
Scofield said Hunter suffers from a nerve disease and that for months family members tried to convince him to go to the hospital, but he refused.
“Everyone tried to convince Hunter to go to the hospital. Hunter said no. When the paramedics came, he said no. They turned around and walked off, said we can’t touch him. He’s an adult,” Scofield said.
Scofield said Hunter insisted he did not want to leave the tub and maintained that his father was caring for him. She said she believes Shimkus was wrongfully arrested.
“Yes, I do. Honest to God, I do,” Scofield said.
Hunter was hospitalized. His current condition is unknown.
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