Woman avoids trial in Genesee County abuse case, pleads to lesser charge

Genesee County Circuit Courthouse on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 in downtown Flint. (Jake May | MLive.com)

By Joey Oliver 

FLINT, MI – A 61-year-old woman avoided trial Tuesday by pleading no contest to reduced charges.

Lori Rosebush was charged with first-degree murder and first-degree vulnerable adult abuse in the death of 68-year-old Bonnie Fisher, who weighed less than 70 pounds when she was found by authorities in June 2020.

But Rosebush, scheduled to appear before Genesee County Circuit Court Judge David J. Newblatt Tuesday, May 23, for trial on the charges instead pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder.

The abuse charge was dismissed altogether.

With the plea, Rosebush entered into a sentence agreement that stipulates she receive 36 months probation with no up-front jail time.

A sentencing date was scheduled for July 21.

Rosebush was Fisher’s sister and caretaker.

A 911 call on June 12 at a Bloor Avenue home led paramedics to contact the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office Elder Abuse task force.

Fisher was found inside the home. Rosebush had called 911.

Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson previously said that Fisher, who was cognitively impaired, weighed only 69 pounds and had not seen a doctor in four years at the time of her death.

Investigators and the county medical examiner estimated Fisher has not been moved from her bed since fall 2019.

Swanson added that an autopsy revealed the victim was malnourished, had broken bones and was unable to articulate her pain.

Robert Hammond Stilwill, a friend of Rosebush’s, was also charged in the case.

However, he was sentenced by Judge David J. Newblatt earlier this year to 24 months probation after previously pleading no contest to first-degree vulnerable adult abuse.

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Woman avoids trial in Genesee County abuse case, pleads to lesser charge