Adult son found naked and starving in closet during dog investigation
Bonnie Sue Schutzer faces four charges after officers discovered her 35-year-old son in a home with 18 dogs.
By Diego Mendoza ·
Eighteen dogs were inside the Pitcairn home when officers arrived Thursday to investigate an animal complaint. During that search, they discovered the mother’s 35-year-old son naked in a second-floor closet. The man is autistic, partially blind, and non-verbal.
Bonnie Sue Schutzer, 54, was arrested and charged with four offenses. Court documents list abuse of a care-dependent person, neglect of a care-dependent person, recklessly endangering another person, and false imprisonment. Police noted the house was covered in feces and urine at the time of their visit.
The man’s physical state indicated severe hunger. According to authorities, he grabbed a handful of dirt and put it in his mouth while officers escorted him from the residence after he was clothed. He was transported to AHN Forbes Hospital in Monroeville for evaluation.
The discovery occurred during a joint response by Pitcairn police, the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, and the county Humane Society. The agencies were responding to a specific complaint regarding the animals rather than the human resident. Officials confirmed the son had been alone in the closet for an unknown duration.
As of Friday, a preliminary hearing for Schutzer had not yet been scheduled. The man’s medical condition remains under assessment by hospital staff. Police continue to investigate the circumstances leading to the discovery.
