Pennsylvania Mom Sentenced to Up to 50 Years After Special-Needs Son Found Dead Weighing Just 59 Pounds
DRESHER, PENNSYLVANIA — A Pennsylvania mother will spend up to 50 years behind bars after her severely disabled 21-year-old son starved to death, weighing just 59 pounds when police found his body on the floor of the family’s apartment.
43-year-old Sherrilynn Hawkins pleaded guilty on Monday to third-degree murder, neglect of a dependent person, theft by deception, and conspiracy in the death of her son, Tylim Hatchett, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.
Judge Wendy G. Rothstein sentenced Hawkins to 25 to 50 years in state prison, calling her crimes “inhumane and unimaginable.”
‘Severely Emaciated’ and Left Alone for Days
Police responded to an apartment in Dresher on September 18, 2024, after receiving a report of an unresponsive person. When officers arrived, they found Tylim Hatchett lying on the floor, described as “severely emaciated” and weighing only 59 pounds.
He was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators later determined that Hatchett, who had cerebral palsy, died from complications caused by prolonged neglect.
The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office ruled his death a homicide, confirming that he had lost more than 30 pounds in just seven months — over one-third of his total body weight.
Parents Collected Caregiver Payments While Neglecting Him
Authorities revealed that Hawkins and her friend, Loretta Harris, were both being paid by Aveanna Healthcare to act as caregivers for Tylim — even though they frequently left him alone for up to 24 hours at a time.
A review of phone and timecard data showed that between Sept. 1 and Sept. 18, 2024, the victim was left alone 82% of the time, totaling 356 hours out of 425 hours.
“They were clocking in and getting paid while this young man was literally wasting away in his home,” District Attorney Kevin Steele said.
Investigators also discovered that Tylim had several daily medications that were never administered, leaving him vulnerable and untreated for days.
Father Still Wanted; $7,500 Reward Offered
Police are still searching for 40-year-old Vernon Hatchett, Tylim’s father, who is charged with neglect resulting in death, abuse of a dependent person, and conspiracy to commit involuntary manslaughter.
Authorities say he fled before trial, and a $7,500 reward is being offered for information leading to his arrest.
“If anyone sees this man, please call 911 immediately,” prosecutors urged.
‘No True Remorse,’ Prosecutor Says
At sentencing, First Assistant District Attorney Ed McCann said Hawkins displayed no genuine remorse for her son’s death.
“She came into court claiming she was a ‘great care provider,’” McCann told reporters. “What we saw was a woman who left her disabled son to die alone and then lied to keep collecting money.”
Harris, the co-defendant, pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent person and will be sentenced in December.
Community Shock and Outrage
The tragedy has devastated the Dresher community, where neighbors said they rarely saw Tylim outside and had no idea he was being starved.
Advocates for disabled residents in Montgomery County have since called for tighter oversight of home healthcare programs, arguing that the system failed to catch signs of prolonged abuse.
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