Arrest made after ‘profoundly autistic’ woman found dead from severe malnutrition

DALLAS, N.C. (WBTV/Gray News) - A North Carolina woman was charged in the death of a woman who required around-the-clock care several months ago.

Marlo Wallace, of Dallas, North Carolina, was charged recently with first-degree murder in the death of 23-year-old Aaliyah Michelle Fortner in October.

Fortner’s body was found inside a home in Dallas, N.C., after Wallace reportedly told police they would find a body in the home. Officers said Wallace told them about Fortner after she was involved in a crash with a semi-truck that night.

Wallace allegedly took care of people with various disabilities.

An investigation by the North Carolina Medical Examiner said that police found a 23-year-old woman who was best described as “nonverbal and profoundly autistic, requiring around-the-clock care.” Fortner was found dead in the bedroom of Wallace’s home.

An autopsy said that Fortner had “severe intellectual disability, autism, and mood disorder and died of malnutrition.” She weighed 75% less than her ideal body weight at the time of death, weighing around 80 pounds when she died and was reportedly 143 pounds at her last documented personal medical appointment six months ago.

The autopsy said that Fortner was found unclothed and only covered in a blanket. There were extensive blunt force injuries to her head, torso, and extremities. The injuries happened anywhere between the last few hours and the past two weeks, according to an autopsy.

The North Carolina Medical Examiner’s Office said that Fortner’s cause of death was “severe protein-calorie malnutrition due to inadequate nutritional intake due to caregiver neglect.” They ruled her death a homicide.

Wallace was charged with first-degree murder on June 4 in the death of Fortner, according to Gaston County court records.

Police originally charged Wallace on Nov. 7, 2025, with concealment of death from unnatural causes, patient abuse and neglect, felony assault of an individual with disabilities.

She was booked into the Gaston County Jail under a $1.5 million bond.

A second person, 55-year-old Vera Williams, was charged with patient abuse and neglect and felony assault of an individual with disabilities.