Following the death of a loved one, the loss became more painful because family members said a system that's supposed to protect families failed them.
Contact 13 began investigating problems with Clark County's guardianship system nearly a year ago, starting with a daughter who had to fight the courts to carry out her father's wishes.
"I miss him. I miss him immensely," Terri Black said.
Terri and her dad, Del Mencarelli, were very close.
Del passed away July 3. Now Terri sorts through the few personal belongings she recovered.
"Just a simple watch. You know nothing fancy," she said. "But this probably was Dad's favorite watch."
The family had a simple plan in place. If the time came when Del couldn't take care of himself, Terri would step in. But things didn't work out that way.
"If my dad knew how the end story of his life has gone, he would have been horrified," Terri said through tears. "This is not the way he wanted it to be. This is not the way he wanted to live out the remainder of his days." Nearly two years ago, Alzheimer's disease was taking a toll on Del's health. Terri, and her husband Rick, came to Las Vegas to take him home to North Carolina, but Del's companion Helen Natko resisted, forcing Terri into a drawn-out and very expensive court battle.
"That's a hell that no one should ever be put through," Rick said.
Source:
Family Mourns Loss of Loved One Caught up in Guardianship
See Also:
NASGA: Del Mancarelli, Nevada Guardianship Victim