Evaluation ordered for Fountain City man who didn’t report wife’s death

A man must undergo an evaluation after he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest after he told deputies his wife’s body along with dozens of cats and dogs were inside their Fountain City area mobile home.

Arthur McMullin appeared in Buffalo County Circuit Court on Thursday morning.

He was charged last October with hiding a corpse and mistreatment of animals.

A deputy delivering legal documents to the couple’s mobile home led to the discovery of the woman. McMullin told deputies that she’d died on the bathroom floor of their residence about six weeks earlier.

He also told investigators why he hadn’t reported anything to authorities.

McMullin said his wife didn’t like hospitals. He also didn’t want anyone to take away the animals they were taking care of.

More than 70 cats and dogs, in filthy conditions, were removed from the home. Two dead cats were also found.

Members of the Fountain City Fire Department had to use their breathing gear in order to enter the home and locate the woman’s body according to the criminal complaint.

During the court proceeding, McMullin received a 225-day sentence on a charge of resisting or obstructing. He’d already spent that amount of time in jail before Thursday.

On the remaining charges, he was found guilty but not guilty due to mental disease or defect.

Judge Thomas Clark ordered that McMullin undergo an evaluation by the Department of Health Services.

McMullin’s case returns to court on June 25. He’ll remain in the Buffalo County Jail in Alma.