NEWPORT — A man whose mother died after lying three weeks with a broken hip in a filthy cat-filled garage will face a grand jury on abuse charges.

        Campbell District Court Judge Greg Popovich bound Phillip Sarakatsannis over to the grand jury Thursday after describing the case as one of “unbelievable” depravity.

Sarakatsannis

        Mr. Sarakatsannis, 32, is charged with a fourth-degree felony, abuse involving ne glect by a caregiver. He is accused of leaving his injured mother, Bonnie Sarakatsannis, 69, on the floor of her Fort Thomas garage from Aug. 20 to Sept. 10 before taking her to a hospital.

        “There may be some mental disease or defect involved here, I don't know,” the judge said. “But the depravity of this situation is unbelievable. I've never heard anything like this before.”

        Judge Popovich asked Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Bob Montfort whether he wished to discuss an increase in the $25,000 bond in light of the testimony.

        Fort Thomas Police Sgt. Rich Whitford testified that he spoke to Mrs. Sarakatsannis, whom he had known for many years, at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South on Sept. 10, the day she was taken there by private ambulance from her home on Scenic View Drive.

        “She said she had fallen outside Phillip's condo (in Southgate), and she said she had him take her to the garage at the Fort Thomas house,” the officer said. “When I asked her why she went to the house instead of the hospital she said, "Don't ask me why I didn't go to the hospital, I don't know. I was in so much pain.'”

        A total of 111 cats, some dead, were removed from the house in the days following Mrs. Sarakatsannis' arrival at the hospital.

        Sgt. Whitford said he was told at the hospital that Mrs. Sarakat sannis had a large bedsore on her back where bone showed through, as well as other medical problems and a broken hip.

        He said Mrs. Sarakatsannis was coherent at the hospital, and recognized him.

        “She said she told Phil she wanted to go to the house because she felt free there with her cats,” Sgt. Whitford said. He said Mr. Sarakatsannis said his mother did not want to go to a hospital after she was injured.

        “At the hospital, she kept telling me, “Phil didn't do anything to me,” he said during cross-examination by defense attorney Harry Hellings.

        Mrs. Sarakatsannis died at the hospital Sept. 30. Police said results of an autopsy and related medical reports are not yet available.

        Sgt. Whitford said Mr. Sarakatsannis provided food and water for his mother in the garage, where she was lying on a sheet on the floor and later in a chaise lounge. Mr. Sarakatsannis went to work each day and came back to the house and slept in the garage with his mother each night, according to the police report.

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