In December 2022, Stephen Weidlich Jr., a 26-year-old man with physical, intellectual and developmental disabilities was found dead in the woods behind his home in Allenstown where he lived with a caretaker. His father, Stephen Weidlich Sr. is currently suing PathWays of the River Valley for their neglect.
Stevie was supposed to have lived in a home run by PathWays with a live-in caregiver named Douglas Onkundi. Onkundi, however, was living in Manchester and would return to Allenstown to give Stevie his medications. He was secretly sharing his paycheck with another man who was not authorized to take care of Stevie and did not have any training. On Dec.18, 2022, Stevie, who was unable to walk, managed to flee his home and his body was found by police dogs, hypothermic with evidence of a blunt force injury to his ribs. Neither Onkundi nor the man he was paying was criminally charged.
“Investigators were told Stevie had locked himself in the bedroom and that when Onkundi returned, he used a ladder to climb up to the window and discovered the glass was broken and Stevie was gone,” reported the New Hampshire Bulletin.
So, someone who could only crawl managed to break and escape through a window? Yeah, sure, that’s believable. Where was the other man then? Nowhere to be found? Seems highly suspicious and makes me wonder if he was even looked for at all.
“The state investigation from the Bureau of Adult and Aging Services concluded that Onkundi had committed neglect. However, the bureau didn’t finalize that finding until November 2024, nearly two years after Stevie’s death,” according to an article by the New Hampshire Bulletin.
There are specific agencies, such as the Incapacitated and Vulnerable Adult Fatality Review Committee, which is a board of specialists formed by state legislation to investigate the deaths of vulnerable or incapacitated adults, determining if any faults in state policy or practices contributed to the death. According to Vanessa Blais and Francesca Broderick, the committee’s co-chairs when interviewed by The Bulletin, Stevie’s passing was never brought to their attention.
These are two levels in which the state of New Hampshire failed to seek justice for Stevie. PathWays managers even told investigators that they had told Onkundi on multiple occasions only trained staff can work with the people in their care. But, in the report, Onkundi said there was “an unwritten rule that everything was OK unless PathWays said otherwise.” Sounds like PathWays needs to seriously get itself in line. If Onkundi had previously been talked to, why did they let him continue to work with individuals with disabilities? It is my opinion that those workers should be held to the same standards as any kind of caretaker.
Stevie faced neglect from almost all of the people who were supposed to protect him: The man supposedly “taking care” of him, Onkundi, PathWays, the Attorney General’s office and the state–all of whom declined to comment when inquired by the New Hampshire Bulletin.
Stevie’s story is nothing short of disappointing. I am appalled at the lack of justice being served by the N.H. Attorney General’s office and the agencies designed to protect individuals like Stevie. It is unfortunate that Weidlich Sr.’s lawsuit may be the only way progress is made.
Developmental Services of Sullivan County is doing business as Pathways in Weidlich’s lawsuit. The next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 23.
The Allenstown Police Department was handed the case, but cannot file manslaughter or murder charges as they do not have legal authority; they do have authority for lesser offenses.
My heart aches for the Weidlich family and all of the other families affected by N.H.’s seemingly lack of care towards individuals with disabilities. It is crucial that legislation is made to protect those who cannot protect themselves. The justice system is meant to serve justice, isn’t it?
Madelyn Marabella can be contacted at
mmarabella@kscequinox.com
