Rochester, Minn. – A 75-year-old Minnesota man has been sentenced to prison after allowing his 93-year-old wife to die in a bathtub and failing to call for help for several days, despite having access to a working phone in their home.
Prison Sentence and Charges
Scott Douglas Loven, 75, pleaded guilty in May to criminal neglect by a person who knows or has reason to know deprivation will result in great bodily harm. The plea deal reduced an earlier charge of second-degree manslaughter with culpable negligence.
On Thursday, Loven was sentenced to 41 months in prison for the neglect that led to the death of his wife, Iris Jean Anderson, 93, in May 2023.
Discovery of the Body
On May 8, 2023, police responded to a residence in northwest Rochester following a report of a deceased woman. Inside, officers found Anderson’s body in the bathtub.
The medical examiner determined that Anderson died from a gastrointestinal hemorrhage caused by prolonged immobility and blunt force injuries, and ruled the death a homicide.
Investigators later confirmed Anderson likely died on May 4, 2023—four days before police arrived.
A Pastor’s Call Raises Alarm
The case came to light only after a pastor who regularly visited the couple was told by Loven that his wife had died. Believing the matter had been reported, the pastor initially took no action. Days later, after Anderson’s daughter expressed concern, the pastor returned to the residence, discovered the situation had not been handled, and alerted authorities.
“The pastor went back to the residence on May 8 and Loven told him that Anderson had died and was in the bathroom. He could not recall when she died because he had been drinking since her death,” police noted in their report.
Loven’s Statements to Police
During questioning, Loven gave inconsistent accounts:
- He initially claimed Anderson fell into the bathtub and called out for help.
- He admitted she asked to be taken to the hospital, but he failed to do so.
- He later said he pulled her into the tub himself, thinking it was “better than the floor.”
- At one point, he told police he avoided calling 911 because he “did not want to drive her to sit in the waiting room.”
Police noted that the residence had a working landline at the time.
Anderson’s Injuries
The medical examiner documented severe injuries, including:
- A fractured shoulder
- Contusions on her right arm and eye
- A scalp laceration reaching her skull
These injuries, combined with immobility, led to fatal complications.
Remembering Iris Jean Anderson
Anderson’s obituary described her as an independent, intellectual, and devout woman, known for her generosity and resilience:
“Jean was an empath and a staunchly independent, private woman… Many persons benefited from the generosity of her caring concern and financial altruism.”
Conclusion
With his guilty plea and three-year prison sentence, Loven will serve time for neglecting his wife during her final moments. Authorities highlighted the case as a tragic reminder of the consequences of failing to seek help in emergencies, particularly for vulnerable elderly individuals.
What are your thoughts on this case? Should the sentence have been longer? Share your views in the comments below.
