The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a Glenside man accused of contributing to the death of his severely disabled adult son.
Authorities filed an arrest warrant last month for Vernon Hatchett, 39, also known as Khaliyl Ward, charging him with involuntary manslaughter, neglect of a care-dependent person, and other crimes related to the death of Tylim Hatchett.
Upper Dublin police found the “severely emaciated” 21-year-old man dead on the floor of the apartment he shared with his mother on Sept.18, 2024.
Vernon Hatchett was at the scene and he told officers that he found his son unresponsive, almost two hours before he called 911, according to authorities.
Montgomery County authorities are offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Vernon Hatchett, who is wanted for involuntary manslaughter and related charges in the death of his 21-year-old care-dependant son last year.
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An autopsy found Tylim Hatchett weighed just 59 pounds at the time of his death. The cause of death was determined to be complications of cerebral palsy in the setting of neglect.
A joint investigation by Upper Dublin Police and the Montgomery County Detective Bureau found that Tylim Hatchett had lost 31 pounds over seven months, dropping to 59 pounds at the time of his death.
Investigators also found that Tylim’s mother Sherrilyn Hawkins, 42, of Dresher, and her friend Loretta Harris,45, of Philadelphia, were receiving money and submitting hours to Aveanna Healthcare to be compensated for the time they were not caring for Tylim Hatchett.
The investigation found that Tylim was left in Hawkins’ apartment alone by himself 82% of the time during the last 18 days of his life.
Tylim was blind, nonverbal and he had cerebral palsy, authorities said. He was unable to perform basic daily living activities including feeding himself, and required 24-hour care, authorities said.
Throughout September, Hawkins allegedly messaged Vernon Hatchett multiple times about their son’s deteriorating health; Vernon Hatchett visited the apartment on Sept. 5 and Sept. 7, but he did nothing to provide the food, medicine and care necessary for Tylim’s survival, according to police.
Hawkins and Harris were arrested on Dec. 31 on criminal charges in Tylim’s death.
Vernon Hatchett is a 39-year-old Black male, stands 5-feet, 10-inches tall, and weighs 190 pounds. If anyone sees Hatchett, do not approach him and call 911. For tips on his whereabouts, call Montgomery County Det. James Lavin at 484-674-6527 or Upper Dublin Police Det. Brian Devlin at 215-646-210
Reporter Jo Ciavaglia can be reached at jciavaglia@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Montco man charged in death of disabled son on the run. Reward offered