Autopsy Confirms Nonverbal Woman Died of Starvation in North Carolina Group Home

Aaliyah Fortner, a 23-year-old nonverbal woman, died from severe malnutrition caused by caregiver neglect at a group home in Gaston County. Recently released autopsy results reveal that Fortner weighed only 84 pounds at the time of her death in October 2025, having lost 60 pounds in the preceding six months. The medical examiner concluded that her death was the direct result of inadequate nutritional intake.

Two caregivers, Marlo Wallace and Vera Williams, face multiple charges including patient abuse, neglect, and assaulting a person with a disability. Prosecutors allege that the pair subjected Fortner to extreme physical and verbal abuse, including kicking, beating, and the use of a Taser. Security footage from the home reportedly shows some of the most degrading abuse the district attorney has witnessed in his career. Wallace additionally faces charges for concealing the death.

The tragedy has raised questions regarding the oversight of the facility. Fortner's stepmother had selected the home using state resources, believing it would be a safe environment. However, records indicate that Marlo Wallace had a history of neglect; she previously held guardianship of another nonverbal man for 15 years before he was removed from her care in 2023. Another witness testified to seeing neglect at the home, which prompted the removal of her own daughter from the facility.

During a November 2025 hearing, Wallace claimed she acted in self-defense, alleging that Fortner would enter her room at night and bite her. The case highlights the vulnerability of nonverbal dependent adults and the critical need for stringent monitoring of residential care providers.