Felony Abuse Charged in Father’s Death : Crime: Document says ailing victim was kept without food and struck by one son when he cried for help. Brother, sister also charged. All deny guilt.

A Huntington Beach man charged with felony elder abuse in the death of his father told police that he kept the 68-year-old man locked in a bedroom for three days without food before his death and struck him when he cried for help, according to documents filed in West Orange County Municipal Court Monday.

“I know I am guilty of not taking care of him,” Jerry Heitzman, 44, reportedly told Huntington Beach police officers investigating the elder Heitzman’s death.

Robert Heitzman, a partially paralyzed man who lived with his two adult sons, was found by paramedics Dec. 3, lying on soiled bedsheets in a room that stank of human waste. According to police, the man’s body was covered with bedsores.

Jerry Heitzman, 44, and his brother Richard Heitzman, 47, have been charged with involuntary manslaughter and felony elder abuse and neglect in the death of their father.

Their sister, Susan Heitzman, who reportedly visited her father on weekends, was also charged with felony elder abuse and neglect. According to court documents, she told police that she was “aghast” when she first discovered that a metal coil was protruding from her father’s mattress but failed to take action to improve his living conditions. All three have pleaded not guilty in connection with their father’s death.

According to prosecution documents submitted Monday at a preliminary hearing for the three Heitzmans, Jerry Heitzman also told authorities that he knew his father needed medical care. However, Heitzman said he never called a doctor because he feared that the family would lose his father’s veteran’s benefits and Social Security income.

Jerry Heitzman reportedly told police that for three days beforehis father’s death, he kept the elder Heitzman locked in his bedroom. Jerry Heitzman admitted to police that he had struck his father on the head, ignored his cries for help and refused to feed, bathe or take him to the bathroom during his final days, according to court documents.

Meanwhile, a forensic pathologist testified Monday that the elder Heitzman died from a combination of neglect, malnutrition and dehydration. The autopsy also suggests that Heitzman had suffered multiple rib fractures--possibly as recent as a week before his death, according to examiner Dr. Joseph Halka.

Attorneys for the defendants disputed charges that their clients were directly responsible for their father’s death. Jerry Heitzman’s attorney, Mike McClellan, said his client was not guilty of the charges because he did not have the required training to care for his ailing father.

“This is a very sad neglect case,” Deputy Public Defender McClellan, said after the hearing. “The task became overwhelming for him. It went beyond his ability and spiraled out of control.”

Meanwhile, the attorneys for Richard and Susan Heitzman argued that their clients were not responsible for the elder Heitzman’s daily care.

Richard Heitzman’s role was merely to provide for the family financially, said his attorney, Greg Jones.

According to documents, Richard Heitzman told police that although he was concerned about his ability to care for his father, he believed that it would be too expensive to commit him to a nursing home.

Times staff writer Tammerlin Drummond contributed to this story.