Where they lived. McMullin said he was afraid of hospitals and didn’t have much money, so he didn’t report his wife’s death. She had been dead six weeks when a social workers alerted police that something wasn’t right. The body was found in the bathroom, where apparently she had fallen off the toilet. A heart attack was suspected. She was 57. The corpse was badly decomposed. Pet dogs and cats, which were going unfed, had chewed off one leg. Image: Steve Lunde
Husband claims he couldn’t deal with wife’s death
ALMA, Wis. – A plea of mental feebleness was accepted from a Fountain City man accused of concealing his wife’s corpse in their trailer house where he was living in filth with 70 cats and dogs, many malnourished and sick. Through an attorney, Arthur McMullin, age 70, told the judge he was willing to plead no contest for reasons of sluggish mental acumen. Although there already had been an examination of McMullin’s mental capabilities, Buffalo County Judge Thomas Clark ordered a further exam on whether to commit him to institutional care. Meanwhile, McMullin will remain in jail in lieu of $10,000 bail, the judge ordered. The charges to be excused in the plea deal:
> One count of hiding a corpse.
> Two counts of animal mistreatment.
> Four counts of failing to feed and water confined animals.
The deal accepts conviction on an eighth count – not cooperating with the original investigation. McMullin’s 225 days in jail so far would be considered sufficient punishment. McMullin was arrested in October. He seemed confused and incapable of sorting through legal and moral options and social conventions, investigators said. To officers he repeatedly called the animals “the kids.” It was all so sad, officers said. In the court proceedigs, McMulin has been represented by attorney Steven Richards.
Earlier: No public defender in corpse-hiding case
Earlier: Bail at $10,000 for Fountain City corpse