Relatives say the hospitalized man refused treatment before police arrested his father.
MESA, Ariz. — Relatives of a Mesa man accused of abusing his disabled adult son say the case is more complicated than police records suggest after officers found the son badly injured in a bathtub Monday night.
Melvin Shimkus, 52, faces one count of vulnerable adult abuse after police said his son, 31-year-old Hunter Shimkus, was found extremely emaciated and covered with severe wounds. Family members say Hunter Shimkus had refused medical care before. Police say Melvin Shimkus was his main caregiver and waited too long to get help.
The call came shortly before 10 p.m. Monday from a home near Gilbert Road and Pueblo Avenue. Court documents say the caller reported Hunter Shimkus had been in a bathtub for seven weeks and was covered in feces. Officers said they found a strong odor in the bathroom and saw Hunter Shimkus in the tub with his right leg tied by small ropes. Police said one knee was bent the wrong way and his right foot was badly deformed.
Investigators said Hunter Shimkus has a nerve disease that prevents him from walking and limits his hand movement. They described him as extremely emaciated and said he had open sores on his body. An investigator said the neglect was so severe that it may have caused lasting injuries. Hunter Shimkus was taken to a hospital. Officials had not released an update on his condition as of Thursday.
Carol Scofield, Hunter Shimkus’ aunt, said relatives tried to persuade him to go to a hospital for months. “Everyone tried to convince Hunter to go to the hospital,” Scofield said. She said paramedics had been called before but did not take him because he was an adult and refused treatment. Scofield said she believed Melvin Shimkus was caring for his son and should not have been arrested.
Police records describe a different concern. Investigators said Melvin Shimkus told family members that Hunter Shimkus’ leg was bent the wrong way and that he could smell feces from the bathroom. Court documents say one relative told officers Hunter Shimkus had been in the tub since May 16, when authorities were last called to the home and he refused medical help. Police said he had not left the tub since that date.
Melvin Shimkus told investigators he had been caring for Hunter Shimkus for about a year. He said he placed his son in the tub about a week earlier and later offered to take him to a hospital after seeing the condition of his leg. According to court records, he said Hunter Shimkus refused more than once. Investigators said the home also had two other family members, but Melvin Shimkus was the only person responsible for daily care.
The charge now moves into Maricopa County’s court process, where prosecutors will review the police findings, medical records and witness statements. The central questions include how long Hunter Shimkus was in the tub, what care was provided, whether he could refuse treatment and what legal duties his father had as caregiver. No court date was immediately reported Thursday.
The case has left two accounts before the court. Police say Hunter Shimkus suffered extreme neglect while under his father’s care. Relatives say the family tried to get help but ran into repeated refusals from an adult who did not want to leave the bathroom.
Author note: Last updated July 2, 2026.