DETROIT – The man charged with leaving his immobile and obese wife in her own waste in their Warren home before she died has been granted supervised visits with their four children.
Yolanda Reese-Brooks was pulled the her home in October by a hazmat crew. She died a few days later in the hospital. Her husband, Michael Dewayne Brooks, had been her primary caretaker after she suffered a crushed pelvis and ruptured bladder in a February 2011 car crash.
Police said their home was uninhabitable. Police found no beds or mattresses for the children and the refrigerator was empty except for spoiled meat on the bottom shelf.
Brooks is charged with second-degree abuse of a vulnerable adult, a four-year felony.
At a hearing Thursday, a judge ruled Brooks could see his 13-year-old, 11-year-old and 2-year-old twins.
Brooks' attorney, David Draper, said his client had become overwhelmed caring for his family. He also said Reese-Brooks allegedly didn't want to be taken care of.
"From accounts from others, from witnesses, this wasn't always the easiest or more receptive patient and wasn't always excited about being cared for or addressed for these matters," Draper said.
Brooks waived his pretrial and heads to trial in circuit court on Nov. 19.
-- Michael Dewayne Brooks and Yolanda Reese-Brooks