A Houston man has been arrested for felony elder abuse according to a July 23, 2013 article in The New York Times.
The article exposes a scam to collect Social Security and Veteran benefits from elder individuals held against their will. Three elderly disabled men ages 50, 74, and 80 were held prisoner for at least one year in a small garage fitted with burglar bars and lacking the benefit of furniture, beds, blankets, or plumbing. Officials said the men were only given scraps of food to eat and were prevented from leaving by force or coercion.
Walter Renard Jones, the 31-year-old grandson of the homeowner, allegedly lured the men to the garage with promises of food, shelter, and care. He was arrested and charged with felony elder abuse, including allegations that he struck one of the men with a cane.
According to the article, neighbors were shocked by the scandal. Many neighbors and relatives were often guests in the house but never went near the converted garage.
A fourth man, who was apparently given more freedom than the others lived both in the converted garage and, at other times, in the home was instrumental in notifying police of the travesties occurring at this location.
The individuals held captive were taken to the hospital and treated for malnourishment.
Officials from the Houston Police Department stated that this case was one of the most extreme instances of elder abuse and financial exploitation in Texas.
For more information and to read the full article visit http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/24/us/houston-garage-was-prison-for-three-disabled-men.html?_r=0
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