Montgomery County man imprisoned for killing wife over cat’s vet bills denied lifesaving medical treatment, according to lawsuit.
The family of an 84-year-old man from Lower Pottsgrove Township, Pennsylvania, is pursuing legal action against Montgomery County and two medical service providers, citing a failure to provide essential healthcare that allegedly contributed to his untimely death. Barton Seltmann passed away in April 2024 due to complications associated with urosepsis from an untreated urinary tract infection, according to allegations outlined in a recent wrongful-death lawsuit filed in federal court in Philadelphia.
The lawsuit reveals that Seltmann’s deterioration in health, marked by multiple medical conditions, occurred during his incarceration in Montgomery County Jail. Notably, the suit contends that Seltmann also sustained a neck fracture from falling in his cell, which contributed to his declining condition. The lawsuit names Montgomery County, along with PrimeCare Medical and Creative Health Services, both contracted to manage inmate medical care at the facility, as defendants.
Requests for comments from both PrimeCare Medical and Creative Health Services went unanswered, while a representative for Montgomery County’s Board of Commissioners indicated that the county refrains from discussing ongoing litigation.
Seltmann was initially charged with murder following an incident in November 2023 where prosecutors alleged he killed his wife, Margaret, amid a dispute over the cost of veterinary care for their cat. Despite being charged, court documents suggest that Seltmann exhibited signs of cognitive decline and did not comprehend the severity of the situation, believing his wife was still alive post-incident. Court records reflected that a month before his passing, the charges against him were dismissed by a Montgomery County judge, who determined that Seltmann was unfit for trial due to significant deterioration in both his mental and physical health.
Representing Seltmann’s children, attorney Patrick Duffy stated in the lawsuit that Seltmann’s health notably declined while in custody and emphasized the failure of the jail staff to adequately address his medical needs. The lawsuit argues that staff delayed referring Seltmann for further treatment in light of his severe symptoms and expressed concern for a potential transfer to a state hospital.
During his six-week stay at the jail, Seltmann’s health rapidly declined from an apparent state of wellness to experiencing severe communication difficulties and a fungal rash. The condition of his health went unaddressed, leading to further complications, including an acute neck fracture sustained during falls at the jail.
Seltmann was eventually transferred to Einstein Montgomery Hospital, where an evaluation confirmed the severity of his health issues, but he was later moved to Jefferson Einstein Hospital in Olney, where he ultimately succumbed to his illnesses.
