A caretaker in Burlington is charged after police say the woman she was taking care of died.
According to Burlington police, a dependent woman was hospitalized on July 21, 2025, after her mattress caught fire. She was later moved to hospice care and died on August 14, 2025.
Her death led to an investigation and Audrey Engler, age 25, was identified as a suspect. A warrant was issued for her arrest on December 11, 2025.
On December 15, 2025, at 4:50 a.m. Engler was spotted on the 100 block of South 9th Street. She was arrested and charged with a felony – intentional dependent adult abuse by a caretaker with serious injury. Engler was transported to the Des Moines County jail. A judge has set a preliminary hearing for Engler for December 29, 2025. Bond for Engler has been set at $10,000.
A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.