MIDLAND COUNTY, Texas — Note: Viewer's discretion is advised as information in this article is graphic
NewsWest 9 is learning new information through a Midland County arrest affidavit about an elderly man's death in August and how his caretaker was responsible.
According to the arrest affidavit, 53-year-old Paula Stiles identified herself as the "great niece, caretaker and power of attorney," for the elderly man.
Stiles told the Midland County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) that she was at the elderly man's residence on Friday, Aug. 23, in the evening, but did not see him until Saturday, Aug. 24 at approximately 3 p.m.
The affidavit states that Stiles, at that time, relocated to the front of the elderly man's residence. There, she found the man lying on the ground covered in dirt and blood, completely unclothed from the waist down.
According to the arrest affidavit, the elderly man sustained a head laceration on the very top of his head, skin tears throughout his extremities, chest and genital area.
On Aug. 25, MCSO's Patrol Division went to Midland Memorial Hospital (MMH) to conduct a follow-up investigation after receiving information from Midland Telecommunications that the elderly man was requesting a Sexual Assault Nurse Exam (SANE).
The affidavit states that MCSO's Criminal Investigation Division was contacted about this case and SANE started doing some examinations.
SANE staff advised deputies that the injuries "were indicative of a sexual assault."
When MCSO went back to MMH to ask follow-up questions to the elderly man, he told investigators that Stiles "hurt him at his home." During the follow-up questions, the elderly man's health conditions were extremely poor.
He later died on Monday, Aug. 26.
According to the arrest affidavit, on Wednesday, Aug. 28, Stiles was further interviewed following his death.
Stiles claimed to deputies that she was "scatter-brained" on Friday, Aug. 23 and was "unsure" if she had visited the residence on that day. The affidavit states that she left the man without care for approximately 48 hours. However, Stiles filled out a timesheet for the company she is employed by to be caretaker and it showed her working a full 26 hours within that time frame, regardless if she provided care to him or not.
On Oct. 11, an autopsy report done by Texas Panhandle Forensics revealed that the man's cause of death was "complications of dehydration due to renal failure."
The affidavit states that a National Weather Service weather report for Aug. 23-Aug. 24 showed temperatures reaching to a high of 105 degrees.
A comment on the autopsy report said there were prior reports of falls and unsafe conditions in his home, in addition to his health status that make him a higher risk for falls and injuries.
According to the affidavit, the report also showed that the elderly man spent "about 18 hours exposed to elevated ambient temperature in the 100 degree Fahrenheit."
Due to everything reviewed throughout the investigation, MCSO requested an arrest warrant for Stiles because they believed criminal negligent homicide was committed.
Stiles was arrested on Tuesday, Nov. 5 for the charge and was booked into the Midland County Central Detention Center on a $1 million bond.
The affidavit also revealed that prior to being arrested, she was convicted for manslaughter, forgery and theft of property from grave/human corpse. Stiles also had multiple possession of controlled substance charges and driving while intoxicated charges, one including a child passenger. The affidavit also stated that she was wearing an ankle monitor to measure her alcohol in blood content that was ordered by a judge while on probation. She was assigned to an adult probation officer.