Burkburnett PD: Disabled twins found malnourished, dirty; father charged with exploitation

An elderly man has been charged with exploiting his disabled twin adult daughters, who were reportedly found malnourished and unkempt.

David Hubert Decker, 78, was charged with exploitation of a disabled individual – a third-degree felony. He was out of the Wichita County Jail Friday morning on $10,000 bail.

David Hubert Decker

The allegations came to light after one of his daughters was found wandering around Burkburnett around 11:03 a.m. on Jan. 31.

Burkburnett police were called to the 600 block of East College Street for a suspicious person call.

They arrived and made contact with a disabled person, who was identified as one of Decker's twin daughters.

The officers saw she was thin, visibly dirty and had a "pungent odor to her body." Her hair was also completely matted down into a massive tangle, an arrest warrant affidavit states.

The affidavit also notes that her finger and toenails were very long and unkempt, and she had "a layer of crust all over her body." The crust included a large ringworm on her back.

The officers observed that her disability prevented her from caring for herself and making decisions, the affidavit states.

Adult Protective Services was contacted, and the affidavit states APS requested the woman be transported to the hospital for treatment.

APS also informed officers that the woman had a twin sister with the same disability, but they didn't know where she lived.

On Feb. 1, officers found the woman's father, identified as Decker, at a residence in the 600 block of East College.

Decker claimed he was the twins' guardian and caregiver due to their disability, the affidavit states.

He apparently was aware that the one daughter had wandered off but didn't make an attempt to find her. The affidavit states he also didn't contact police to report her as missing.

While officers were speaking with Decker, they also made contact with the twin sister.

The twin sister had a similar appearance to the woman found in the street, and her toes appeared to be infected due to her toenails growing into the toes next to them, the affidavit states.

According to the affidavit, she seemed to have a difficult time walking and was taken to the hospital for treatment at the request of APS. She was diagnosed with malnutrition and dehydration.

APS reportedly spoke with officials at the Social Security Office who verified that the twin sisters receive a combined $1,541 per month in disability benefits. Decker was listed as the payee to their account.

The affidavit states that Decker was aware his daughters are not bathed or nurtured with any form of hygiene.

Decker was charged with exploitation of a disabled individual for improperly using his daughters' resources and not providing them with the medical services or care that they required.

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Burkburnett PD: Disabled twins found malnourished, dirty; father charged with exploitation