99 Year-Old Among Five Victims Discovered in "Deplorable Conditions"

ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WACH) — Investigators with the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety (ODPS) say five vulnerable adults ranging in age from 99 to 52 were in imminent danger when they were found in heavily soiled undergarments in the back of a Broughton Street barbershop.

During the December 27 investigation, officials say they were told that a man inside a closet room area ate himself to death and passed away on Christmas Eve, according to the incident report.

ODPS officials say bond was set a $30,000 for 40-year-old Shaneima Montgomery of Saint George on January 5 in connection to the crimes.

The Lemon Drive woman was arrested on January 4 and is charged with five counts of neglect and financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult.

The incident reports also states:

• The building is deemed unsafe for residential living due to the following: building is not zoned for residential, building lacks necessary fire and safety systems that are required for individuals living in an institutional occupancy to include automatic sprinkler system and fire alarm system
• The building does not have a kitchen sink
• The building does not have bathing facilities
• The exterior and interior doors are not adequate, the door hardware does not allow for accessible and safe egress
• The front door was secured by a turn latch only, the exit door from the rear of the building where the stove was located has a twist style doorknob with a turn latch above and the third exit door was through a room where storage created exiting obstacles and a narrow path to the door
• The storage room exit door had a twist style doorknob with a turn latch above
• The victims rooms were keyed on the exterior to allow for locking of the victims within their rooms
• The building is unlicensed and lacking appropriate DHEC licensing, inspections, and documented staff training necessary for the care and supervision of vulnerable adults
• The building has several fire hazards to include lack of portable fire extinguishers, lack of sufficient emergency lighting, a residential stove was installed in the rear area but not in use with intent present to eventually utilize for cooing operations without a fire suppression system in place
• The building does not have any interior handrails installed for vulnerable adults as a travel support, medication was not properly stored
• The exterior of the building does not have a handicap rail that would be utilized for the victims in wheelchairs to safely transport in and out of the building
• The oxygen cylinders were stored improperly to include no posted signs stating "OXYGEN IN USE", etc.

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99 Year-Old Among Five Victims Discovered in "Deplorable Conditions"