What began as a welfare check of a Sand Fork elderly man has resulted in the arrest of his two care-givers on felony charges of abuse or neglect of an incapacitated adult. Trooper S.D. Morris of the Gilmer Detachment of the West Virginia State Police received a complaint from the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center that a meals on wheels delivery driver was concerned that an elderly gentleman at a Sand Fork location was not mobile enough to retrieve the food delivered to him.
When Trooper Morris arrived at the scene he found the elderly man in a camper trailer near the main residence. When the officer made contact with the man, he witnessed him lying on a sofa with his feet in front of an electric heater. His feet appeared black with open wounds. The officer also observed what appeared to be an accumulation of bodily fluids under the victim
Trooper Morris made contact with Rex Larry Wallbrown, 37, who told the officer that he was a distant cousin of the elderly man and that he and his girlfriend, Brittani Dawb Bell, 33, cared for the victim. The couple lived in a house on the same property where the camper was located.
Trooper Morris’ investigation revealed that there was no running water or toilet facilities in the camper where the elderly victim was found and that the living conditions were deplorable in the small residence.
The officer obtained a statement from Ms. Bell stating that she and Wallbrown were the victim’s general caretakers. Both confirmed to the officer that they had never called 9-1-1, EMS or Adult Protective Services (APS) concerning the victim’s health or condition, but admitted, according to the criminal complaint, that they realized they should have. They also confirmed that the victim was not able to walk, go to the restroom, cook for himself, retrieve his meals or bathe himself.
Trooper Morris also discovered that Bell had previously pleaded guilty to the felony offense of abuse or neglect of an incapacitated adult on September 14, 2018.
The pair were arrested and arraigned before Gilmer County Magistrate Carol Wolfe. They are currently lodged in the Central Regional Jail awaiting additional court appearances.
The victim in this case was taken to a local medical facility for treatment.