A 53-year-old bedridden woman, who died from burns she suffered while smoking in her Greensburg home, was in the care of her son, a police officer testified Thursday.

Greensburg Detective Jerry Vernail said during a preliminary hearing that Victor McCurdy, 22, of 425 Maple Ave., sometimes fed Rosemary McCurdy, got prescriptions for her since at least 2006, and cashed checks from her bank account.

"He was her son, resided in the residence," Vernail said when defense attorney Jeremy Boby questioned why McCurdy could be viewed as his mother's primary caregiver. "According to the bank records, he accepted money from her."

Greensburg District Judge James Albert went on to hold McCurdy for trial on charges of neglect of care of a dependent person and involuntary manslaughter.

Police allege that McCurdy did little to help his mother after she suffered severe burns to her face, neck, chest and airway in late December 2008. She had multiple sclerosis for about 15 years and was bedridden for at least five.

"The injuries were significant, very noticeable ... and any person who had any (concern) would have immediately called an ambulance," Westmoreland County Assistant District Attorney Charles Washburn said at the hearing.

McCurdy didn't call for an ambulance until Dec. 26, the day his mother died, police said. That was four or five days after she had burned herself in a flash fire involving her oxygen tank, according to court papers.

Rosemary McCurdy was covered in feces and had oozing bedsores when she was taken to Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg, where she died, police said. An arrest warrant affidavit indicated that she weighed 70 pounds. Her death was caused by the burns.

During the hearing, McCurdy's attorney maintained that police overstated his client's role as primary caregiver.

"There is almost no evidence, whatsoever, other than the fact that my client resided in the house and picked up some prescriptions, that he was the primary caregiver," Boby told Albert in asking for dismissal of the charges.

The attorney said McCurdy didn't take his mother for help sooner "because she didn't want to go."

Washburn replied that McCurdy is the dead woman's son and should have helped her.

Vernail said Rosemary McCurdy did not have a primary care physician after Dr. Antoine Cawog was arrested on drug and tax evasion charges in spring 2008.

No home health service was coming into her home to help her, he added.

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