Man Charged With Neglecting Mentally Ill Wife to Stand Trial in October

A Manassas Park man indicted on charges that he neglected his mentally ill wife to the point of her death is scheduled to stand trial in October.

Barry J. Karsh of 123 Evans St. was indicted by a grand jury on charges  of abuse and neglect of an incapacitated adult. Jennie Karsh who was found dead in her home at 9504 Park St. in Manassas on Aug. 11 by emergency personnel who responded to the residence.

A hearing brief court hearing was held on the matter Friday in Manassas and the case was continued until Oct. 24, the day Karsh's trial is to begin.

 Manassas Police said Jennie Karsh was found in her bed in very poor physical condition and appeared to weigh less than 90 pounds.

 Karsh suffered from a mental illness and was taking medication for it, according to a search warrant affidavit.  She was being cared for her by the suspect, her estranged husband, investigators said.

 It looked as if Karsh hadn’t been kept cleaned or taken care of physically.

A refrigerator in the home was unplugged and had no food inside, according to the search warrant. A smaller upstairs refrigerator had water, soda and other items inside.

 The suspect told officers that he hadn’t lived with his wife in years, but visited her two or three times a day to buy her food and medications, but never cooked for her, according to the search warrant.

 On the day of her death, the suspect said he arrived at her home at about 6 a.m.  and saw that her lips were, “blue and flaky,” according to the search warrant affidavit.

 He touched her lips and she made a moaning sound, the suspect told police, that’s when he went to  the Comcast Building on Center Street and told officers about his wife’s condition.

 Officers there referred him to social services, but that agency didn’t open to 8:30 a.m., according to the affidavit.

 The suspect told police he went back home and then called social services at 8:30 a.m. but was told to call E-911.

 By the time emergency personnel arrived, the victim was dead, according to the affidavit.

 Officers investigating Jennie Karsh’s death spoke to social services employees who said that the suspect had inquired about how to get his wife committed.

 They, in turn, gave him instructions on how to become his wife’s legal guardian.

 The suspect told police he’d tried to obtain guardianship over his wife, but her daughter wouldn’t let him, according to the affidavit.

 The victim’s daughter told police the suspect’s statement about her wasn’t true and that she had actually offered to pay for an attorney and help him with the guardianship process, but the suspect hadn’t followed through.

 The victim’s daughter told police she’d received an email from the suspect on the day her mother died, telling her that she should go and check on her mother because, “something seems like it is wrong.”

 On Aug. 17, 0fficers searched the suspect’s home looking for evidence of, “purchases of food, medication or other caretaker supplies for Jenny Karsh.”

Officers seized checkbooks, receipts and a computer from the suspect’s residence during the search.