Elder Neglect Criminal Sentencing
Summary
Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach announced a 40-month prison sentence for Linda Oeding, 71, for elder abuse and neglect of her 94-year-old mother Betty Oeding. Oeding pleaded guilty to two counts of mistreatment of an elder person and is barred from inheriting from her mother's estate. The victim died from sepsis in September 2025 after being found severely neglected with infected pressure sores and malnourishment.
What changed
The Kansas Attorney General's Office obtained a 40-month prison sentence for Linda Oeding following her guilty plea to two counts of mistreatment of an elder person. The case involved extensive neglect including isolating the elderly victim from family, refusing medical treatment and life-saving measures, and allowing severe pressure sores, malnutrition, and sepsis to develop. Oeding received 32 months for abuse and 8 months for neglect to be served consecutively, and she is prohibited from receiving any estate benefits.\n\nThis enforcement action demonstrates that criminal prosecution under state elder mistreatment statutes can result in substantial prison sentences. Healthcare providers and caregivers should ensure proper documentation of elder care and immediately report suspected neglect. Medical professionals who identified and reported the condition played a critical role in the prosecution.
What to do next
- Healthcare providers and caregivers: Ensure proper documentation and immediate reporting of suspected elder abuse or neglect
- Family members with concerns about elder care: Report suspected mistreatment to law enforcement or Adult Protective Services
- Legal professionals advising on estate matters: Note that criminal convictions for elder mistreatment can result in forfeiture of estate benefits
Penalties
40 months incarceration (32 months for abuse + 8 months for neglect, consecutive); barred from receiving proceeds or benefits from victim's estate
Archived snapshot
Apr 3, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Kobach’s office obtains prison sentence for Kingman County woman for abuse and neglect of her elderly mother
Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach today announced that Linda Oeding, 71, of rural Kingman County, was sentenced to 40 months in prison
Post Date: 04/01/2026 2:20 PM
Kobach’s office obtains prison sentence for Kingman County woman
for abuse and neglect of her elderly mother
TOPEKA – (April 1, 2026) – Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach today announced that Linda Oeding, 71, of rural Kingman County, was sentenced to 40 months in prison for the abuse and neglect of her elderly mother, Betty Oeding, 94.
“Elders in Kansas deserve dignity, respect, and protection — especially from those entrusted with their care,” Kobach said. “My office will continue to hold accountable anyone who abuses or neglects vulnerable Kansans."
Oeding had positioned herself as her mother’s sole caregiver and isolated the victim by preventing other family members from visiting or checking on her. In September 2025, when Oeding called Kingman County EMS to report her mother as unresponsive, Oeding refused transport to the nearest hospital and instead insisted her mother transport to a hospital nearly an hour away. Oeding also refused IV fluids, medications, and life-saving resuscitation measures on behalf of her mother.
Medical professionals described the elderly woman’s shocking state: severely emaciated, covered in advanced, infected pressure sores from prolonged immobility, and unwashed after extended neglect. Despite receiving treatment, the victim developed sepsis from deep wounds and poor living conditions. She was transferred to hospice for comfort care and passed away on September 10, 2025.
On January 16, Oeding pleaded guilty to two counts of mistreatment of an elder person. At her sentencing on March 11, the Court ordered her to serve 32 months for the abuse and 8 months imprisonment for neglect to be served consecutively for a total of 40 months incarceration with the Kansas Department of Corrections. Oeding also is barred from receiving any proceeds or benefits from her mother’s estate.
“Unfortunately, elder neglect often goes unnoticed and unreported—we are so grateful for the medical professionals and law enforcement teams in this case who took immediate action to care for the elder victim and document the mistreatment,” said Deputy Attorney General Jessica Domme.
The Kingman County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas Bureau of Investigations investigated the case. Deputy Attorney General Jessica Domme and First Assistant Attorney General Stacy Edwards prosecuted the case.
Return to full list >> News releases issued prior to 2023 are available through an archive hosted by the Kansas State Library.
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