Authorities probe woman’s death

Staff report

SALEM

Salem Police Detective David Talbert said Tuesday he believes a woman found burned in Perry Township was Ardes Bauman, 60, of Salem, whom he was investigating in a case of alleged elder abuse.

A member of the Perry Township Police Department said that he found the body of a partially burned woman on a closed road off Egypt Road in the township at 9:33 a.m. Monday.

Talbert said that Oct. 12, James Zeigler of Hilo, Hawaii, met with Salem Police Officer Austin French about making contact with his mother and sister, who was Bauman.

The following day, Salem Police Officer Brent Slider was called to the home where the mother lived.

Zeigler had called an ambulance after discovering his mother was not receiving what he considered proper care and appeared to be malnourished.

A report provided Tuesday by Salem Police Chief Robert Floor said that an ambulance took the mother to a hospital for treatment. A report on her condition was not available.

Perry Township Police Chief Mike Emigh said members of the dead woman’s family were still being notified of the death.