A Valparaiso woman faces neglect charges after her 93-year-old mother was found deceased in a recliner in their home on September 16, 2025. Sandra Antolick, 62, has been charged with neglect of a dependent in the death of her mother, JoAnne Antolick. Police responded to a deceased person call around 1:40 p.m. at a residence in the 100 block of North Morgan Boulevard after the defendant, Sandra Antolick, called 911.
Upon entering the home, officers encountered a "malodorous" smell attributed to rotting food, trash, and mildew. The victim was found dead in a recliner, nude and "covered with absorbent bed pads," according to police. The living room floor was cluttered with items piled as high as 5 feet, obstructing access to all bedrooms and the second story. Investigators noted there was no running water in the home, and the refrigerator was not operational, filled with rotting food. The mother and daughter had reportedly lived in the home for only a month, having been evicted from their previous apartment due to its messy condition.
Sandra Antolick had been her mother's sole caregiver for the past several years, police said. She told officers she slept on the living room floor while her mother used the recliner. According to officers, Sandra Antolick also stated that her mother had not seen a doctor in years despite her declining health. An autopsy later determined that JoAnne Antolick suffered from numerous bedsores across her body, some described as "so deep they had reached the bone." Doctors noted that these sores would have caused significant pain, and police stated that the victim died from complications related to these infected sores.
During subsequent interviews with police, after being read her Miranda rights, Sandra Antolick claimed the bedsores were only about a week old. However, investigators determined that given their large size and heavy bleeding, the sores were much older. She also told police that she regularly changed her mother's dressings, but investigators concluded this care was insufficient. Police highlighted that Sandra Antolick had worked as a radiological technician at a local hospital for more than 25 years, suggesting she would have been aware of her mother's critical need for medical attention. Despite this, she allegedly did not call for help until her mother was already deceased.
Sandra Antolick reportedly informed police that her mother had recently injured her arm in a fall, comparing the injury to "a bird with an injured wing." She also stated that JoAnne Antolick was unable to walk and was difficult to move. The defendant indicated that her mother had been vomiting in the days leading up to her death but was still able to eat, drink, and talk. She told officers her mother was alive the night before and had vomited around 11:30 a.m. before "then stopped responding and passed away."
Police reported that Sandra Antolick allegedly waited two hours before calling a funeral home, which then instructed her to dial 911. When questioned about the delay, she reportedly stated she was "shocked." However, phone call history reviewed by police suggested the victim may have died hours earlier. Detectives concluded that several phone calls made by Sandra Antolick around 3 a.m. indicated that "there was a problem." One such call was to a co-worker who, after returning the call around 8:30 a.m., reportedly heard Sandra Antolick say her mother had died and that she "F'd up" and was "screwed." The co-worker also alleged that Sandra Antolick expressed a need for others to state the time of death was around 11 or 11:30 a.m.
Sandra Antolick was arrested on Friday and is currently held at the Porter County Jail on an $11,000 bond. Her next court appearance has not yet been announced.
