Family: GH man neglected Amber Carey

GRAND HAVEN, Mich. (WOOD) - A Muskegon family is distraught over the charges brought against the man they believe killed their loved one.

The aunt and brother of 34-year old Amber Carey say the state failed them by leaving her in the hands of a monster. They believe the charges of involuntary manslaughter and vulnerable adult abuse against William John Masselink are not strong enough.

"He got paid to take care of her and he literally killed her," said Pamela Carey, who asked community members to write the Ottawa County Prosecutor asking him to more charges against Masselink.

Until she died, Amber Carey's boyfriend William John Masselink was her state-paid caregiver .

While the family knew he was neglecting Amber, they say Adult Protective Services ignored their cries for help.

The family of Amber Carey said they will try to remember her as a vibrant, healthy woman who stood about 5'8 and 145 lbs.

But when Carey died she weighed only 80 lbs. The 34-year old had broken teeth from malnutrition, and her lungs had holes in them.

William John Masselink, Carey's boyfriend and caregiver for seven years, is charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with her death.

The family said Masselink kept Carey from them in his Grand Haven home. They said he consumed and sold the prescription drugs that she took for pain, and misused the money the state gave him to care for her.

Carey's brother said he brainwashed her and abused her emotionally. "He would always tell her nobody's going to want to be with you, nobody's going to want to take care of you." Jordan Carey said

Jordan and Carey's aunt, Pamela Carey, said their family complained about Carey's care to adult protective services numerous times, but no one stepped in.

"For them not to step in and say this man, who has a very shady past is a drug addict had no right to be taking care of her, the state giving him the right, he got paid to take care of her and he literally killed her," Pamela said.

Pamela said in hindsight the family holds themselves responsible for not having acted more aggressively to get Carey out of the situation that lead to her early death.

Erica Larson, Amber Carey's half-sister, told 24 Hour News 8 she thinks the charges against Masselink are warranted and hopes the prosecution moves forward.

"Not even an animal should have to endure the kind abuse and neglect my sister suffered from Bill," she said. She does not agree with her father, who expressed sympathy for Masselink.

Larson admits she had not seen her sister since 2004 but says that's partly because Masselink kept her isolated from the family. When family would try and visit Carey, she said, Masselink often would not answer the door. She said she only met Masselink once but thinks he was collecting money from the government for taking care of Carey.

Erica Larson believes Masselink took on the role of caretaker after Carey began showing signs of MS after her son, Hunter, was born. The child is now in foster care, she said.

24 Hour News 8 contacted protective services in Ottawa County. A spokesman said he could not comment on specifics of anyone's case or even confirm Amber Carey was a client.

The Ottawa County prosecutor said it was a visiting nurse who ultimately blew the whistle on William Masselink.

But the family said that only scared him deeper into hiding with Amber until it was too late to save her.

24 Hour News 8's Marc Thompson contributed to this report.