Trenton brothers accused of leaving mother to die in their home appear in court

Grant Balogh, Gabriel Balogh charged with homicide in mother's death

TRENTON, Mich. – The case of Vicki Balogh and her sons, who are charged with her murder, is an incredibly complex case involving doctors and family members.

UPDATE: Case dismissed against Trenton brothers accused of leaving mother to die in their home

The medical examiner said Balogh died of malnutrition due to her medical condition, but her manner of death has not been determined. Wayne County prosecutors charged her sons with murder.

Officials said Balogh looked like a Holocaust victim after dying alone in her Trenton house. Her own sons, Grant and Gabriel Balogh, told police they were her caregivers, but they've been charged with her murder.

Police and prosecutors said the home the three shared was filthy and had very little food in it, indicating the woman was neglected.

Last October, Balogh was found not breathing, but her sons didn't call 911. One brother took her to the hospital, where Trenton police Officer Jason Davis saw her remains.

Balogh suffered from the disease Ataxia, so she needed constant care. Experts said she was wasting away.

Defense attorneys insist Balogh wanted to live out her last days with her sons in her home, and that the case isn't murder.

Brothers accused of leaving mother to die

Grant Balogh, 33, and Gabriel Balogh, 31, were charged with two counts of homicide and the abuse of a vulnerable adult in the death of their mother, Vickie Balogh.

The 58-year-old woman died in October. One of the brothers drove her body to Beaumont Hospital and said she had just stopped breathing.

Medical officials said Balogh had been dead for at least seven hours. Hospital staff members and police officers said they saw the shocking condition the woman's body was in.

They said her body was extremely emaciated, there were sores and lesions on her skin, her skeletal structure was visible through her skin and she was filthy.

"It's a tragedy," Trenton police Officer James Nardone said. "It's not only a tragedy for the community, it's a tragedy for the family."

Grant Balogh has an OWI from about 14 years ago. Gabriel Balogh has no criminal record.

You can watch Shawn Ley's full story in the video posted above.


About the Authors:

Local 4 Defender Shawn Ley is an Emmy award-winning journalist who has been with Local 4 News for more than a decade.

Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.