Dependent woman was just 84 pounds at the time of her death

Added: 2026-05-27

[00:00:00]We now know the cause of death for 23-year-old Aleia Fortner. That's the dependent adult who was living with a caregiver in Dallas, North Carolina. She had severe autism and was found dead inside that home in October. According to this autopsy we received today, she lost 60 lb over a 6-month period and was just 84 lb at the time of her death.

[00:00:24]According to the findings, she died from complications of malnutrition due to inadequate nutritional intake due to caregiver neglect. Her caregiver, Marlo Wallace, along with Vera Williams, face abuse, neglect, and assault charges in connection to this case. District Attorney Travis Page tells me he is reviewing this autopsy right now and considering additional charges.

[00:00:49]As you may recall, our investigation found plenty of red flags about Wallace's home in the years leading up to Fortner's death.