Phila. Police Examining Prior Living Situation of Disabled Man Found Lying in Cobbs Creek Woods
By Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Authorities are moving forward in their investigation of a 21-year-old quadriplegic man allegedly abandoned by his mother in woods near Cobbs Creek for days without food or water.
Philadelphia police lieutenant John Walker says officers were executing a search warrant today at the West Philadelphia home of Nyia Parler, the 41-year-old mother accused of dumping her non-verbal, wheelchair-bound son in the woods last Monday near her home, then hopping a bus to Maryland to be with a boyfriend.
"We're conducting a search warrant at the offender's home this morning to look for additional information to assist us in the case," Walker said, noting that police want to figure out the quality of care previously provided to the young man and what agencies have been involved in overseeing his case.
"The short-term investigation should be completed today," Walker said, "then we'll go into a long-term investigation into who was taking care of this child."
As for Parler, police say she is currently in the care of a Montgomery County, Md. hospital, for unknown reasons. Once she's released, he says, she'll be extradited back to Philadelphia, where she faces charges that include assault, kidnapping, and other crimes.
The 21-year-old son was still recovering from malnutrition, dehydration, and cuts in a Philadelphia hospital, but is expected to be okay.