Aurora siblings accused in abuse of elderly mother

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Alan Roberson, left, Connie Roberson, center, and Kevin Roberson | Courtesy photos

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Updated: October 12, 2011 9:05PM

AURORA — Two Aurora brothers and their sister are in jail today, charged with felony neglect of their elderly mother.

After more than 40 years of working with area seniors, Barbar Kolaski, Senior Services elder abuse supervisor, said this is the worst case of neglect she has seen.

Kevin Roberson, 42, Alan Roberson, 54, and Connie Roberson, 51, all of the 1100 block of North Randall Road, Aurora, are charged with criminal abuse or neglect of an elderly person, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

After viewing graphic photos of the victim during the brothers’ bond call hearing Thursday, Judge Linda Abrahamson set each man’s bail at $250,000. She also forbid the siblings from having contact with their mother, 77-year-old Martha Roberson.

Connie Roberson, 51, appeared before Judge Marcy L. Buick on Tuesday. Her bail was also set at $250,000.

Mother’s leg amputated

According to prosecutors, the siblings were in charge of caring for their mother between June 18 and Oct. 2 of this year. The children failed to make sure that she was bathed or fed properly, or that her health conditions were properly attended to, prosecutors said.

Kolaski said Senior Services became aware of the situation on Sunday, sometime after Martha Roberson was brought by ambulance to a hospital.

Assistant State’s Attorney Debra Bree presented the judge with photos taken of the victim at the hospital, which show a three-inch deep open wound to the victim’s tailbone that was black, red and purple in color.

A second photograph showed the victim’s right leg, which was black from gangrene and has since been amputated.

Bree said the wound and gangrenous leg were a direct result of the neglect.

Kolaski said Martha Roberson has been appointed a private guardian.

Abuse rarely reported

According to Senior Services Associates, it is estimated that more than 76,000 Illinois residents over the age of 60 are elder abuse victims. However, only 8,000 elderly victims are reported to the Elder Abuse and Neglect Program annually.

“If you think someone is not giving the kind of care that you would give to your mother, that’s the signal, that’s the red light,” Kolaski said.

Last year, Geneva sisters Jill and Julie Barry were convicted of criminal neglect in the death of their ailing mother.

Mary Barry, 84, died April 27, 2007 — seven days after social workers took the elderly woman from her house, covered in bed sores and insects. The sisters were caring for their mother at the time of her death.

The Barrys, who had no prior criminal history, received no jail time for the crime, but were sentenced to conditional discharge — a less-strict, non-reporting form of probation.

Previous arrests

This is not the first time the Roberson siblings have been in trouble with the law.

According to prosecutors, Alan Roberson was charged with drunken driving in 2008 and again in 2009.

Kevin Roberson was charged with drunken driving in 2010. He was also charged with possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia in 1995.

Connie Roberson has a 1992 felony charge of manufacturing and delivering a controlled substance.

The brothers’ next court date is 9 a.m. Oct. 18 at the Kane County Judicial Center.

Connie Roberson’s next court date is 8:30 a.m. Oct. 25.