Clinton Township Man Charged in Father’s Dehydration Death

Michael Stirling, 51, of Clinton Township, Michigan, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, vulnerable adult abuse, and as a habitual offender following the death of his 77-year-old father, James Stirling, who died from dehydration in November 2024. Authorities allege Stirling was the live-in caretaker and gave inconsistent accounts, stating he last saw his father the previous day before later claiming he left on October 30 after arranging for a caretaker police could not locate. The death was ruled a homicide, and Stirling was arraigned with a $250,000 bond, subject to house arrest and mandatory evaluations if released. Prosecutors highlighted the seriousness of pursuing cases where seniors are harmed by neglect. In a separate incident in Clinton, Iowa, John Frank Elder Junior faces charges of adult abuse resulting in death, with allegations of financial exploitation, after his father died from pneumonia complicated by Alzheimer's and other injuries. Both cases underscore ongoing concerns about elder abuse and the legal consequences for neglectful caretakers.