A 70-year-old North Carolina man named Louis Kornhaber was found guilty of second-degree murder and neglect in connection with the death of his wife. Kornhaber left his disabled wife on the floor for at least six months before she died in June 2021.
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According to a news release issued by the Mecklenburg County District Attorney's Office, back on October 6, 2020, Bonnie Kornhaber, Louis's wife, arrived at her home. She was previously at the hospital where she stayed due to a medical condition that left her wheelchair-bound. Louis helped her by securing her in the wheelchair with a belt.
However, at one point, Bonnie slipped to the floor. Instead of helping his wife, Louis Kornhaber, for whatever reason, decided to leave her lying helplessly on the floor. For about six to eight months, Bonnie remained on the floor while Louis never called 911. According to him, he never made any calls because both he and Bonni were "embarrassed by the conditions inside the house."
Wife Found Unresponsive
On June 4, 2021, Bonnie told Louis that she was having trouble breathing. Similar to before, Louis decided to do something else instead. He watched TV for hours and, when he came back to check on his wife, he found her unresponsive. That's when Louis Kornhaber, finally, called 911.
First responders arrived at the house and quickly declared Bonnie dead on the spot. They were left in shock at the condition Bonnie was submitted to. She was lying on the floor surrounded by trash and spoiled food, in what detectives would deem a "hoarder house." "She was covered in her own waste, suffering from extensive sores, with insect activity present in many of the open bed sores on her body," reads the news release.
Following the horrifying discovery, Louis Kornhaber was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and neglect of a disabled or elderly adult resulting in serious physical injury. Kornhaber's trial began on February 24, 2025. Four days later, he was found guilty as charged by a jury.
Superior Court Judge Matthew J. Osman sentenced him to 94 to 125 months in prison. Louis and Bonnie Kornhaber were married for 40 years.
