Authorities in Pennsylvania have raised the reward to help catch a father accused of causing the tragic death of his special-needs son. The case has shocked many people due to the serious allegations of neglect and abuse inside the family home. Officials are now urging the public to come forward with any information that could lead to his arrest.
Reward Increased to Catch Accused Father
Officials, including Kevin R. Steele and Francis Wheatley, announced that the reward has been increased to $10,000. This money will be given to anyone who provides information that directly helps in capturing Vernon Hatchett.
Hatchett, who is also known as Khaliyl Ward, has been missing for over a year. Police say he is wanted in connection with the death of his 21-year-old son, Tylim Hatchett.
Serious Charges Filed Against the Accused
Authorities have filed multiple serious charges against Vernon Hatchett, including:
- Neglect of a dependent resulting in death
- Abuse of a dependent person
- Conspiracy to commit involuntary manslaughter
According to officials, Tylim was completely dependent on others for his daily needs. The district attorney stated that the father failed to provide proper care, which ultimately led to his son’s death.
Mother and Caregiver Already Sentenced
Tylim’s mother, Sherrilynn Hawkins, has already pleaded guilty to several charges, including third-degree murder. She has been sentenced to 25 to 50 years in prison.
Another woman, Loretta Harris, who was supposed to help care for Tylim, also faced charges. She was given five years of probation after pleading guilty to neglect and fraud-related offences.
Neglect and Fraud Details Revealed
Investigators found shocking evidence during the case. Both Hawkins and Harris were being paid by a home healthcare company to care for Tylim. However, they often left him alone for long periods, sometimes up to 24 hours.
Phone records showed that they were “clocking in” for work even when they were not actually present. This means they were taking money without doing their duties.
Between September 1 and September 18, 2024, Tylim was left alone for 356 out of 425 hours. That is around 82% of the time, which clearly shows a pattern of serious neglect.
Condition at the Time of Death
On September 18, 2024, police responded to a call at an apartment in Dresher. When they arrived, they found Tylim lying on the floor in a severely weak and malnourished state.
He was declared dead at the scene. Reports say he weighed only 59 pounds at the time of his death. Just seven months earlier, he had weighed 91 pounds, meaning he lost over one-third of his body weight.
The father reportedly told police that he found his son hours before calling emergency services.
Medical Neglect Played a Major Role
Tylim had cerebral palsy and required daily medication. Since he could not take medicines on his own, caregivers were responsible for giving them to him.
However, investigators found that:
- He was not given his required medications
- He was left without food for long periods
- His health was clearly getting worse over time
Medical reports confirmed that the cause of death was complications from cerebral palsy combined with severe neglect. Authorities have officially ruled the death as a homicide.
Parents Were Aware of His Condition
Messages between the parents showed that they knew about Tylim’s worsening health. Despite this, they continued to leave him alone without proper care, food, or medicine.
This has made the case even more disturbing, as it suggests that the neglect was not accidental but continued over time.
