Police in Mesa say a 52-year-old father is behind bars after officers found his 31-year-old disabled son severely emaciated and reportedly living in a bathtub for weeks. The father, identified as Melvin Shimkus, was booked on a vulnerable-adult abuse charge and is being held on a $12,000 bond. Relatives say they pushed again and again to get the man medical care, while investigators say he was hospitalized with injuries that may be permanent.
What officers reported
According to Action News 5, officers responding to a 911 call went into the home’s bathroom and were hit with what a police affidavit described as a "strong, pungent odor" similar to rotting meat and feces. Court documents say the 31-year-old was "extremely emaciated," with small ropes tied around his right leg, an extremely deformed foot and a right knee bent at roughly 90 degrees in the opposite direction.
Family says they tried for months
A family member told police the man had been in the tub since May 16 and had repeatedly refused medical attention, according to AZFamily. Hunter's aunt, Carol Scofield, who also lived in the home, told the outlet the family "tried for months" to get him care and said she believes the father should not have been arrested.
Charges and next steps
Police arrested Shimkus on one count of vulnerable-adult abuse, and he was being held on a $12,000 bond, according to Action News 5. Authorities have not said whether prosecutors plan to pursue any additional charges or when an arraignment might be set, leaving the legal picture still in flux.
State law and the legal frame
Under Arizona law, adult-protective statutes spell out who qualifies as a vulnerable adult and give investigators civil and criminal authority to step in, according to the Arizona Department of Economic Security. Criminal penalties for abusing a vulnerable adult vary based on intent and the extent of injury and are detailed in the state’s criminal code, found in the Arizona Revised Statutes.
Local trend and other cases
Advocates and law enforcement officials say this is not an isolated story. They report that alleged neglect or mistreatment of adults with disabilities has surfaced across the Valley this year, raising hard questions about how well vulnerable adults are monitored and how easily they can access care. Recent reporting has highlighted similarly grim scenes, including a case where a man was discovered tied to a wheelchair and later died, as covered by KOLO.
Family members in the Mesa case continue to dispute the narrative, telling reporters the younger man repeatedly turned down help, while investigators have characterized the alleged neglect as so severe it could leave permanent injuries, according to AZFamily. Hunter Shimkus was hospitalized, and officials have not released an update on his condition as the investigation continues.
