Husband charged in death of 400 pound wife by leaving her to lay in her own waste

WARREN, Mich. - The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office in Michigan has charged a man in the death of his 400-pound wife.

Michael Dewayne Brooks, 37, is charged with Abuse of a Vulnerable Adult. Brooks is accused of neglecting his wife by leaving her to lay in her own waste for at least eight or nine days - injured and immobile.

His wife, 40-year-old Yolanda Reese-Brooks, had to be rescued from their apartment by Warren Fire and EMS, but went into septic shock and died in the hospital several days later.

According to the prosecutor's office, Michael Brooks was Yolanda's primary caretaker.

The couple also had four children in the home, 2-year-old twins, an 11-year-old and a 13-year-old. Police reports indicate that the home was uninhabitable and there were no beds or mattresses for the children.

“Michael Brooks’s shameful neglect of his wife rises to the level of criminal abuse,” said Macomb Prosecutor Eric Smith.  “It’s unthinkable to allow a loved one to suffer in this disgraceful manner.”

The children are staying with the victim's sister at this time.

Brooks is expected to be arraigned on Wednesday.