'I Know This Looks Bad': New Details On Montco Neglect Death Case

UPPER DUBLIN TOWNSHIP, PA —"I know this (expletive) looks bad," the mother charged in the neglect-related death of her 21-year-old son told police after he was found dead, court records state.

Sherrilynn Hawkins, 42, of Dresher, faces first-degree and third-degree murder charges, theft by deception, and related charges in the death of her care-dependent son, Tylim Hatchett, who was found severely emaciated and lying on his bedroom floor dead when Upper Dublin Township Police arrived at an apartment in the Residences at the Promenade on Sept. 18.

“Listen if I was you, I know this (expletive) look bad, cause it would look bad to me if I was a cop. I just hope you call his doctors and get his records because for the past 21 years, I took care of him. If I was y'all and I'm being honest, this (expletive) would look bad," Hawkins said to Upper Dublin Detective Brian Devlin, the criminal affidavit obtained by Patch states.

The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office announced the charges on Tuesday. A caretaker, Loretta Harris, 45, of Philadelphia, has also been charged. There's also a warrant out for the arrest of the man's father, Vernon Hatchett, 39, of Glenside, authorities said.

Hawkins was not home when authorities found her son dead. According to court records, she had left to reportedly drop off her 3-year-old son, Tajir Hatchett, in Philadelphia. She did return to the scene later that morning, but did not go into the apartment, court records state.

An investigation determined that Tylim lost 31 pounds from February 2024 to Sept. 18, going from 91 pounds to 59 pounds. Investigators also said that Hatchett was left alone in the apartment for 356 of 425 hours between Sept. 1 and Sept. Sept 18.

The affidavit states that Tylim was not receiving much medication either.

Inside the apartment, police found three cases of Pediasure. Two of the cases were full (24 cans in each) and one case had a total of 19 remaining cans.

"Like I said if I'm y'all, I know it looks bad. Was I concerned about his weight a little bit? I was. Tylim was also on 1 can, I mean 3 cans a day, one with each meal. Like I said, he ate three times a day, his Pediasure, his Duocal powder goes on the food," Hawkins told police according to the affidavit.

According to Hawkins, she fed Tylim breakfast on the morning of Sept. 17 and then he went to sleep, the affidavit states. Tylim went to sleep after breakfast, and remained in his bedroom, "asleep," until she determined he was dead the next day and a call was made to 911.

Hawkins told police that they should get his hospital records to see how many times Tylim had been to the hospital and to review the history of his weight.

"If I did something, wouldn't no doctor let me have him for 21 years," she told police, the affidavit states.

During a later interview, authorities learned from Hawkins that Tylim was blind, non-verbal, and diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. Hawkins explained that Tylim could not walk and that the only way he was able to move was by dragging himself with his upper body, the affidavit said.

Detectives asked Hawkins if Tylim could use a fork or spoon to feed himself and his mother said that she was his main caretaker.

"No, everything was done by me except for actually his cup. That's the one thing he could hold on his own," she told police.