A Texas grandmother fell three years ago. Her daughter let her decay on the floor, police say

Kristin Lam
Updated
Delissa Crayton lived with her mother's decaying remains for three years after she fell in their shared residence, police in Seguin, Texas said.

Police have arrested a Texas woman who they say has lived with her mother's decaying remains in plain view for the past three years.

Investigators believe Jacqueline Crayton fell in the house she shared with her daughter and disabled granddaughter in 2016. Her daughter did not tend to her non-life-threatening injuries, police said in a Facebook post, resulting in Crayton dying on a bedroom floor at the age of 71.

Police found Crayton's remains last week while conducting a Child Protective Services investigation at the home where her daughter and granddaughter still live, Seguin Police Chief Terry Nichols said at a press conference.

Delissa Crayton, 49, is facing a felony charge of injury to a child under 15 because police believe her daughter suffered from living in the two-bedroom home with her grandmother's decomposing corpse.

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While her grandmother decayed in one of the bedrooms, the teenage daughter shared the other bedroom with her mother, police said. The teenager has been placed with family members, police said.

The investigation is ongoing and police are expected to make further charges against Delissa Crayton, who is already facing up to 20 years and a fine of up to $10,000.

Nichols described Jacqueline Crayton as well-respected in the community. She worked in the local school district for decades, KABB reported.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas woman lived with mother's skeletal remains, police say