It’s long been speculated that former Salt Lake County Recorder Gary Ott has a degenerative brain disease. But it was publicly confirmed for the first time on Thursday.
A lawyer for Gary Ott’s family said that the 65-year-old has stage 4 Alzheimer’s, an advanced form of the disease.
Ott’s siblings and girlfriend are embroiled in a court battle over his guardianship.
The Deseret News reports that Ott’s lawyer confirmed that the former county official was in a medical facility and absent from Thursday’s hearings because of his condition.
Ott was pushed to resign his position as Salt Lake County Recorder this summer after more than a year of public outcry. He rarely showed up at the office and, at a county council hearing last year, seemed confused and unable to answer questions.
A neurologist said in court that he diagnosed Ott with dementia in 2013, a year before Ott was reelected as county recorder. Testimony in the case is scheduled through Friday.
