North Carolina Man Convicted for Second-Degree Murder After 6-Month Neglect of Wife

Mar 4

North Carolina, NC

A devastating case of prolonged neglect has ended in conviction in Mecklenburg County. Louis Kornhaber, 70, was found guilty of second-degree murder and neglect of a disabled adult after his wife, Bonnie Kornhaber, suffered for months without care. Bonnie, who had been wheelchair-bound following a hospital stay, returned home on October 6, 2020. Despite efforts to secure her wheelchair with a belt, she eventually slipped from it and fell to the floor, where she remained unattended for six to eight months.

Over this tragic period, Bonnie's condition deteriorated alarmingly. Insects fed on her untreated bed sores while she lay helpless amid unsanitary conditions, as her home turned into what investigators described as a "hoarder house." On June 4, 2021, Bonnie told her husband she had trouble breathing. Instead of immediately seeking help, Kornhaber spent several hours watching TV in another room. When he finally checked on her, he discovered she was unresponsive and not breathing, prompting him to call 911.

First responders arrived to a harrowing scene: Bonnie's body lay amid trash and spoiled food, marked by severe sores and signs of insect activity. Prosecutors detailed the heart-wrenching neglect, emphasizing that Bonnie had been left in a state of profound suffering.

Kornhaber later admitted that he delayed calling 911, explaining that both he and his wife were embarrassed by the condition of their home. However, after a four-day trial, a jury convicted him. Superior Court Judge Matthew J. Osman sentenced him to between 94 and 125 months in prison—roughly 7 years and 10 months to 10 years and 5 months—crediting him for the 1,351 days already served.

This tragic case underscores the severe consequences of neglect and the importance of safeguarding vulnerable loved ones, leaving a community in mourning and demanding accountability.