An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Medicaid Fraud Control Division and Criminal Investigation Division has resulted in the arrest of a Decaturville mother and her boyfriend on charges of abuse and neglect of the woman’s adult daughter who relied on them for care.
On Dec. 30, at the request of 24th District Attorney General Matt Stowe, TBI agents began investigating Belynda Antonette Scott, 42, and Carlos Taylor Johnson, 38, on allegations of abuse and neglect after Scott’s adult daughter was admitted to a Memphis hospital.
A search warrant was obtained by agents for their home in the 70 block of East Walnut Street in Decaturville. During the course of the investigation, agents developed information indicating that between May 1 – Dec. 29, Scott and Johnson were responsible for the abuse and neglect of the vulnerable 21-year-old.
On Jan. 7, agents arrested Scott and Johnson. Both are charged with one count each of aggravated neglect of a vulnerable adult (physical harm), aggravated neglect of a vulnerable adult (bodily injury), and aggravated abuse of a vulnerable adult.
Tennessee statutes define a “vulnerable adult” as a person 18 years of age or older who, because of mental or physical dysfunction, is unable fully to manage his or her own resources, carry out all or a portion of normal activities of daily living, or in unable fully to protect against neglect, exploitation, or hazardous or abusive situations without assistance from others.
Scott and Johnson were booked into the Shelby County Jail on $250,000 bond, and soon will be transferred to the Decatur County Jail. The Decaturville Police Department and the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office assisted in this investigation.
If you are aware of a vulnerable adult or elder who is being exploited, neglected or abused, you legally are required to report it. Please call Tennessee Adult Protective Services at 1-888-277-8366 (1-888-APS-TENN).
