Port Arthur man sentenced following role in death of his elderly mother

Alan Roy Hartzel has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty in the 2020 death of his elderly mother.

Hartzel, 50, was found guilty Thursday, and the sentence was delivered by a jury Friday in Judge John Stevens’ Criminal District court.

Hartzel shared a home in the 2900 block of 5th Street with his mother, Jean Gordan Hartzel, 75.

On Feb. 21, 2020, emergency medical services were called to the home, and his mother was taken to a hospital, where she died a short time later.

Medical personal and first responders testified this week that the elderly woman was in poor health and was covered in feces and urine. Maggots were found all over her body, including the perennial area.

She was also malnourished and dehydrated to the point where the bones were visible under the skin.

There were also bruises on her body and pressure wounds. She weighted 78 pounds at death.

A former first responder testified the house smelled like death, feces and urine and there was no electricity. The man said the inside of the house seemed colder than outside.

Hartzel took the stand and told jurors he failed his mother, as he did not “parent his parent.”

He also admitted to feeling remorse and shame that he didn’t do the right thing that led to the death of his mother.

The post Port Arthur man sentenced following role in death of his elderly mother appeared first on Port Arthur News .