Woman accused of starving 79-year-old mother to death, stealing $47,000

by: Andy Cordan

HICKMAN COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — A 79-year-old Tennessee woman was allegedly starved to death at the hands of her own child, authorities said.

According to Hickman County investigators, it all began in the winter of 2023. That’s when Hickman County EMS responded to the home of 79-year-old Virginia Totty.

Totty was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead.

According to Lt. Mike Doddo, Virginia – who ate through a feeding tube – was very malnourished. An autopsy later revealed she died as a result of a homicide due to malnourishment and other medical issues.

According to Doddo, Hickman County investigators working with Adult Protective Services and the district attorney’s office pieced together a complete timeline of medical and financial records.

Doddo said the autopsy revealed that Virginia’s daughter, her only caregiver, starved her own mother to death.

This week, a Hickman County grand jury indicted Virginia’s daughter, 44-year-old Lorrie Totty, who lived with her mother and served as her mother’s caregiver, according to investigators.

“She was 100% dependent upon her daughter to help her and her daughter failed her,” Doddo said.

In addition to first-degree murder, Lorrie was also charged with aggravated neglect of an elderly or vulnerable adult, theft of property, and financial exploitation of an elderly or vulnerable adult.

According to Doddo, Lorrie allegedly stole $47,000 from her mother, money that was designated for Virginia’s health care.

Lorrie was jailed without bond. She refused an interview with WKRN about this arrest.

“It’s very sad, very disturbing, very upsetting that an elderly person in our community would be treated like that, no less her own family member, her own blood, very hard to stomach,” Doddo said.

Another person living at the Totty residence was also indicted and arrested.

Randy Rochelle, 56, was charged with financial exploitation of an elderly or vulnerable adult. He was implicated in the theft of Virginia’s missing $47,000.

 His bond was set at $75,000.

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Woman accused of starving 79-year-old mother to death, stealing $47,000