Something piled on the toilet seat in a Necedah, Wisconsin home turned out to be the remains of an elderly woman. The medical examiner's report is pending. A family lived with the decaying body for two months, stating dedicated prayer would revive her.
This bizarre tale of toilet mayhem doesn't have a positive end as a 90-year-old woman, Magdeline Alvina Middlesworth, was found dead and propped up on the toilet in the only bathroom of the woman's shared residence.
According to US News, the elderly woman lived with single mom, Tammy Lewis, 35, and her two adolescent children, 12 and 15, in the home. Middlesworth had allegedly passed out while Lewis was putting on Middlesworth's underwear, in what appears to be a caregiver situation.
Lewis then described how she handled the situation and how she called her 'Religious Superior' and self proclaimed Bishop John Peter Bushey. There was no information as to what type of religion Bushey or Lewis, also known as Sister Mary Bernadett, had an affiliation, according to Wisconsin police.
She said she propped Middlesworth on the toilet and left the room to call Bushey, who told her to leave the woman alone and pray for her, the complaint said. He said he had received signs that God would raise her from the dead with a miracle.
Lewis went on to say she thought Middlesworth was still breathing when she put her on the toilet and called Bushey, instead of an ambulance. She later told a detective she put the woman on the toilet on March 4.
Lewis and her children lived in the home with the decaying corpse for two months before Middlesworth's sister called in a police complaint to check on Alvina, who hadn't been heard from "for some time".
When police arrived at the residence, North of Madison, they were denied access and told by Lewis that Middlesworth was on vacation and that permission would have to be given by her superior, Bushey. She eventually allowed them to enter.
The house smelled of incense and burned wood, and had religious materials everywhere and hymns playing on the stereo, according to the complaint.
When the deputy opened the last closed door, she smelled "decaying matter" and noticed something piled on what appeared to be a toilet. Lewis told her it was Middlesworth's body, the complaint said.
The woman believed that the dead body of Middlesworth would come back to life is she prayed hard enough. She also told her children that they would have to keep it a secret since Middlesworth paid all the bills and if it were found out, the kids would have to go to public schools and get jobs.
Lewis and the children lived with the woman that the children called grandma since 2004. Bushey did not live at the home.
Lewis and Bushey are both in police custody on felony charges of causing mental harm to the children. Lewis was also charged with obstruction of a police officer. Both had bonds set at $50,000 USD.
The two children were placed in foster care. The 12-year-old boy told police he had planned on running away.
Email
Print
Share
Potty Tales Part II: Wisconsin Woman Found Dead On Toilet And With Religious Twist
