Case closed for Boardman man and deceased mother

Staff report

BOARDMAN

The case has been closed against Philip Bergman, 45, of Lemont Drive, on charges of failure to report a death and abuse of a corpse.

County officials said the case was closed Tuesday.

After a mental evaluation declared Bergman competent, he pleaded guilty for failing to report the death of his mother, Jacqueline Bergman, 85.

Bergman was sentenced to 30 days in Mahoning County jail, which Michael McBride, assistant county prosecutor, said Friday he already should have served. A check of the county sheriff’s website shows Bergman is no longer in jail.

Due to the new information found during the investigation and autopsy report, McBride said the charge of abuse of a corpse was dropped as the result of a plea bargain.

“Facts didn’t support it [charge of abuse of a corpse] upon examination,” McBride said.

Bergman was arrested May 3 after police discovered his mother’s body decomposing in the garage of her home while Philip reportedly still was living there. The body was decomposing for a little more than a week, said Dr. Joseph Ohr, deputy coroner and forensic pathologist.

Her death was caused by the shock, pain and blood loss after suffering a broken leg in the garage, according to Dr. Ohr’s autopsy report.