BLUEFIELD, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A Mercer County man is under investigation following a disturbing case of elder abuse involving his 84-year-old mother, who was hospitalized with multiple severe injuries, including a brain bleed and broken ribs.
On Saturday, April 5, a West Virginia State Trooper was dispatched to Princeton Community Hospital after hospital staff raised concerns about Conley’s condition. Bluefield Rescue Squad had transported the elderly woman with severely swollen legs, and medical personnel quickly noted extensive bruising on her face, neck, and inner legs.
Photos provided by Conley’s niece revealed the unsanitary and neglectful conditions inside the home, where Conley lived with her son and caregiver, Doug Conley. Images showed the elderly woman sitting in a soiled chair, and additional pictures revealed signs of prolonged neglect, including bleeding caused by tight socks left on swollen ankles and bodily waste caked into open wounds.
Hospital staff later determined Conley had multiple broken ribs in various stages of healing, indicating ongoing abuse. Due to the severity of her injuries, she was airlifted to Roanoke Memorial Hospital for advanced treatment.
Doug Conley was arrested for elder abuse.
The investigation remains ongoing. Medical records from both Princeton Community Hospital and Roanoke Memorial Hospital are being collected as evidence.