Copyright Live 5 News WCSC
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) – A family in California is mourning the loss of a man described as loving and a fiery sports fanatic. After weeks of searching, Ryan Klagenberg and other family members of 59-year-old Richard McClintic now want accountability. “It’s tough, it’s frustrating,” Klagenberg said. McClintic had cerebral palsy and relied on caretakers for support. Now, the woman hired to help him is being charged with his murder. “We’re not gonna stop until we get justice for Richard,” Klagenberg said. Officials said 41-year-old Christina Cowens was arraigned on murder and fraud charges. The court did not allow for her face to be seen, but McClintic’s family knows it well. “This is what we suspected all along,” Klagenberg said. The family said Cowens was McClintic’s caretaker for years. They said they never noticed anything wrong until his sister died. They suddenly could not get in contact with McClintic. “My aunt Shelly went over to his apartment and knocked on the door, and there was no answer,” Klagenberg said. “All of a sudden, then we started getting text messages from his Facebook account.” The family said the messages looked unusual. When they came to see McClintic that same night, they said the caretaker would not let them in. “The caretaker would not let her see Richard,” Klagenberg said. The family asked police to conduct a welfare check on Oct. 25. Sacramento Police said officers went into the apartment but did not find McClintic. Nearly two weeks later, police found McClintic’s remains after getting a warrant to search his apartment. “To know that someone is capable of doing this to a disabled person in my uncle’s condition is just outrageous,” Klagenberg said.
