Elderly woman found tethered to furniture

Published 3:56 pm Tuesday, October 20, 2015

THOMASVILLE — Responding to a call about woman yelling for help Monday morning, police found an 87-year-old woman tied to a sofa.

A man making a delivery at 628 Graydon Ave. heard the yells coming from the house about 11 a.m.

Officers found the elderly woman sitting in the living room surrounded by furniture in an arrangement that did not allow for an entrance or exit to the area where she sat.

“Officers had to move furniture to get to the female and check on her,” said Maj. Eric Hampton, Thomasville Police Department public information officer.

The female was tied to a sofa with sheets and blankets around her waist, Hampton said, adding that no one else was at the residence.

Thomas County Emergency Medical Service was called to the scene to evaluate the victim.

As police detectives investigated the incident, Sandra Wilson, 51, the elderly woman’s granddaughter, arrived. Wilson told officers she left the residence to go to the bank.

After further investigation, Wilson was arrested at the Jail-Justice Center and charged with one count of elder abuse.

The victim was transported to Archbold Memorial Hospital, where she was admitted.

The woman is emaciated and suffering from dehydration and malnutrition, said Capt. Maurice Holmes, Thomasville Police Department Criminal Investigations Division commander.

The victim, Holmes said, is extremely weak and receiving fluids. She remains under observation.

The suspect, who lives at the address where the incident took place, was released from the Thomas County Jail on an $1,110 bond.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820.