Autopsy reveals caregivers of nonverbal dependent adult allegedly starved her to death

DALLAS, N.C. (TCN) -- Newly released autopsy records show that a dependent adult died in October 2025 from “caregiver neglect.”

WCNC reported in November 2025 that Marlo Wallace and Vera Williams, 58 and 54 respectively at the time of their arrests, were charged with patient abuse and neglect and assaulting a person with a disability. Wallace was also charged with concealing a death.

Aaliyah Fortner, 23, had been found dead in their group home the previous month. Her stepmother, Candy Fortner, told the outlet that she had found Williams’ and Wallace’s home through state resources and believed it would be a comfortable and caring place for Aaliyah Fortner to live; other people with disabilities also lived at the home.

According to an arrest warrant obtained by WCNC, Wallace and Williams allegedly beat and kicked Aaliyah Fortner and used a Taser on her in the month leading up to her death. They were taken into custody and charged in connection with her treatment and death.

In addition, WCNC reports that according to the district attorney, home security footage showed Williams and Wallace allegedly engaging in “some of the worst and degrading abuse, both physically and verbal” that he had seen in his career. At their November 2025 hearing, Wallace alleged that she acted in self-defense and that Aaliyah Fortner would come into her room at night and bite her.

WCNC reports Wallace had had guardianship of a nonverbal man for 15 years and he was removed from her care in 2023 due to neglect. Alonda Nedab, a witness who testified at the guardianship hearing for the man, said her daughter lived in the group home and she witnessed the alleged neglect, so she removed her daughter from Wallace’s care.

On May 20, the medical examiner released the autopsy results for Aaliyah Fortner. The report stated she died from “calorie malnutrition due to inadequate nutritional intake due to caregiver neglect.” She had lost 60 pounds in six months and was 84 pounds at the time of her death, according to WCNC.

According to a woman who used to work with her, “Aaliyah was a person you had to have patience with, especially if you didn’t know her, but once you see that smile, she would warm your heart,” WSOC reports.

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