Jeffco man, his girlfriend arrested in death of mother found with two broken hips

Brian Seitz and Laura Prats were arrested on suspicion of crimes against an at-risk person resulting in death and serious injury, sheriff’s officials said

By Lauren Penington

Sheriff’s deputies arrested two caregivers of a disabled Jefferson County woman Wednesday on suspicion of crimes related to her death, officials said Thursday.

When first responders found 58-year-old Sheryl Seitz, she was lying on an air mattress in an Arvada garage, covered in filth and maggots, according to a Thursday news release from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies arrested Seitz’s son and his girlfriend Wednesday on suspicion of crimes against an at-risk person resulting in death as well as crimes against an at-risk person resulting in serious injury. The victim’s son also faces a charge of tampering with physical evidence.

The Arvada Fire Department responded to reports of a sick person at an Airbnb in the 6400 block of Kendall Street on Monday, the release stated. Paramedics transported Seitz to a local hospital, where she died from her injuries a day later.

Hospital records indicated that Seitz was suffering from bed sores, two hip fractures, a “loosely connected wrist,” ulcers, septic shock and maggots burrowing into her body when she arrived on Monday, sheriff’s officials said Thursday.

The Arvada Police Department began the initial investigation but quickly learned that the crimes likely occurred at an RV storage lot in unincorporated Jefferson County where the victim and the two suspects lived separately, according to Thursday’s release.

On Wednesday, sheriff’s deputies executed search warrants at the trailer where Brian Seitz and Laura Prats — the son and his girlfriend — lived, Sheryl Seitz’s RV and the car driven by the two suspects, Thursday’s release stated. Both suspects were arrested.

Because of the victim’s declining medical condition and her inability to walk or care for herself, the two suspects had been her caretakers for the last six or seven years, sheriff’s officials said. The two received state funding for the older woman’s care through a home healthcare company for 83 hours a week.

Seitz’s RV did not have running water or a bed for her to sleep in, the release stated. The only source of heat in the RV was a space heater.

The death is still under investigation and official autopsy results are pending. The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office will release Seitz’s official cause and manner of death at a later date.

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Jeffco man, his girlfriend arrested in death of mother found with two broken hips

Deputies arrest caregivers, accused of elder abuse at Florida facility

By Esther Bower

VIERA, Fla. - A memory care facility in Florida said it was "shocked and horrified" after two of its caregivers were arrested on charges of elder abuse after they allegedly tormented a patient with dementia and recorded it.

Brevard County sheriff's deputies arrested two women last week and allege they live-streamed their encounter with an elderly patient on SnapChat.

"Abusing someone, an elderly person, or abusing anyone is disgusting enough, but to make matters even worse, they live-streamed the abuse," said Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey during a news conference about the case.

Brevard County deputies said the evidence is a Snapchat recording of two caregivers allegedly tormenting a senior with memory and behavioral concerns. 

Jada Harris, 18, was charged with video voyeurism, abuse and neglect of an elderly or disabled adult, and interception or disclosure of wired communications. A second woman, Shy'Tiona Bishop, 20, was charged with video voyeurism and abuse and neglect of an elderly or disabled adult.

In a statement shared with FOX 35, Market Street Memory Care said both employees have been terminated and that it was "shocked and horrified to learn of this incident of elder abuse at the hands of two individuals who were trusted to care for a vulnerable resident."

The facility said it was working with the victim's family.

Tips to keep in mind when selecting a care facility

Experts said the allegations in this case highlight that elder abuse is more common than people think. Those experts also advice on what families should keep in mind when touring facilities. 

"Unfortunately, over the past few years – really since COVID – it seems like over the past three years, the incidents we are seeing and hearing about have escalated," said Cheryl Ann Cronin, who serves as the lead case manager for the Brevard Alzheimer’s Foundation, an organization committed to advocating and empowering families when a loved one has dementia.

The World Health Organization said it is tracking an 80% increase in elder abuse incidents.

"We do see these abuse cases from time to time," said Geoff Moore, a nursing home trial lawyer for Maher Law Firm. 

He said the first step when looking for care is to visit Florida Health Finder, an online portal where people can find current complaints and investigations at medical facilities across the state.

"What this does is it lets you see, is this a facility that has very few complaints or does it have a lot of complaints," Moore added.

When touring a facility, do not be sold right away by how things look.

"When you tour the facility, some of these can look like the Taj Mahal," he said. Instead, take note of how other patients look and ask detailed questions of the head nurse and lead administrator about the facility.

"Trust your gut when you’re doing that," Moore said. "If you get a good feel for them, the research checks out, that’s important. Do that at least, I’d say three times."

In the alleged case above, the day after the video was recorded, another staff members at the facility noticed changes in the victim's behavior – that she was pacing, yelling, and screaming.

"Changes in behavior – sadness, crying, lack of appetite, personality changes, even statements," are changes to look out for, said Cronin, who heads Brevard Alzheimer’s Foundation.

If you or someone you know is experiencing elder abuse, you can call the 24/7 abuse hotline at: 1-800-96-ABUSE or file a report online.

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Deputies arrest caregivers, accused of elder abuse at Florida facility

Caregivers defraud couple who fell ill in Florida Keys

by Andrea Torres

Deputies accused Joseph Bryon Symington, 41, of Big Coppitt Key, and Elizabeth McKay Jacobson, 40, of Key West, of defrauding a couple. (MCSO)

KEY WEST, Fla. – A man and a woman who were working as caregivers defrauded a couple who had fallen ill in the Florida Keys, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday.

Joseph Bryon Symington, 41, of Big Coppitt Key, and Elizabeth McKay Jacobson, 40, of Key West, worked for the couple in Sugarloaf Key for about a year and stole nearly $90,000, according to deputies.

The victims told deputies that they gave Symington and Jacobson access to their finances and when reviewing their bank statements they noticed there were unauthorized purchases from August 2021 to July 2022.

Deputies arrested Symington on Oct. 24 and Jacobson on Thursday. They are each facing charges of exploitation of the elderly, uttering a false bank bill note check draft, neglect of elderly disabled adult, fraudulent illegal use of credit cards, swindle, larceny, using an identification without consent, and forgery.

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Caregivers defraud couple who fell ill in Florida Keys

Couple working as caregivers in Hoover arrested

A Hoover resident came forward to report some property and cash had been stolen from the home. The victim had been using a caregiving service to help around the home.(WRDW)

HOOVER, Ala. (WBRC) - Two people working as caregivers in Hoover are in jail.

At the end of October, a Hoover resident came forward to report some property and cash had been stolen from the home. The victim had been using a caregiving service to help around the home.

Authorities determined some of the property had been pawned at several stores.

Two caregivers were arrested Tuesday in Hoover.(Hoover PD)

Donterra Shapree Jones, 30, of Birmingham is charged with first-degree theft of property in Shelby County and two counts of first-degree receiving stolen property in Jefferson County.

Jeffery Wayne Keeth, 27, of Birmingham is charged with first-degree receiving stolen property in Jefferson County.

Jones and Keeth were arrested Tuesday.

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Couple working as caregivers in Hoover arrested

  

Two Louisiana Caregivers Arrested After Elderly Woman Was Found With Maggots in Wounds

Police have arrested two men in Louisiana after an elderly woman in their care was found with maggots in her wounds.

The victim, whose name and age were not clear, was being cared for by Raymond Hoffpauir, 57, and Dustin Welch, 27, who lived at her home in Crowley, southwest Louisiana, Fox affiliate News 15 reported.

The woman's condition came to light after an extended family member visited her at her home, which they found to be infested with roaches. The relative told police the woman was very weak. Her ankles and legs were bandaged.

When the family member removed the dressing to look at her lesions, she found them to be extremely discolored. Maggots were crawling in some of her sores. The woman is also believed to have been bitten by a rat.

The victim was taken to Acadia General Hospital, where police were alerted to the alleged abuse.

Crowley Police officers questioned Hoffpauir and Welch. Initially, they denied their involvement, but later admitted they had not looked after the woman in weeks, ABC affiliate KATC reported. 

The carers told police they had not changed the woman's dressings in days. They also failed to give her the insulin injections she required for weeks. The hormone is generally used to treat diabetes.

Police told KATC the victim is in hospital, and the Adult Protective Services have been alerted.

Hoffpauir and Welch were charged with cruelty to the infirm. Their bonds have been set at $25,000.

Elder abuse is a "significant public health problem," the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states. One in 10 people aged 60 and over suffer abuse including neglect and exploitation, according to the agency. That amounts to hundreds of thousands of people a year.

Elder abuse is defined as "an intentional act, or failure to act, by a caregiver or another person in a relationship involving an expectation of trust that causes or creates a risk of harm to an older adult."

Abuse can range from the physical, psychological, financial, sexual, as well as neglect.

The charity Action on Elder Abuse advises those who believe someone is abused to try sensitively bring up the topic, and to provide help and support.

"Whether you are a practitioner, friend or relative, you should always be honest and never make false promises—sometimes the abuse might affect more than one person and you will have a responsibility to other people too," the organization states.

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Two Louisiana Caregivers Arrested After Elderly Woman Was Found With Maggots in Wounds

Protecting aging parents from in-home caregivers

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. - Many in-home caregivers are unlicensed and have little oversight on the job and that can leave aging parents vulnerable.

Tuesday,  Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputies arrested Kathy Jean Elliot and charged her with two counts of Exploitation of an Elderly Person and theft.

Elliot worked for Hanson Services as an in-home health care companion for the victims. Elliot removed large amounts of jewelry from the victims' homes and pawned the items.

During the investigation, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office discovered another case of elderly exploitation. Anita Louise Puskas, also an in-home health care companion with Hanson Services. Puskas withdrew large amounts of money from the victim's bank account, deputies said.

"They were likable girls," said Georgana Collins, administrator at Hanson Services "We didn't suspect either one of them. It was rather shocking to all of us."

But Michelangelo Mortellaro, an elder law attorney in Tampa, said exploitation of the elderly from in-home caregivers is all too common.

"You don't really know this person, and that person may indeed take advantage of you." Mortellaro said.

If you have aging parents, Mortellaro said try if possible to have documents drawn up sorting out who has control of bank accounts and financial information before in-home caregivers are hired.

"That also prevents people coming in and attempting to take advantage of you after you have let's say, a memory care issue," Mortellaro said.

Mortellaro also recommends checking up on in-home caregivers. He said make sure food is being prepared and actually eaten by your aging parent. He also said check pill bottles to ensure medications are actually being given out and distributed properly.

He also said check receipts, bills and bank accounts to ensure there's no unusual activity or transfers.

"Keep close tabs using that power of attorney," Mortellaro said.

He also recommends making sure any caregiver hired is licensed, bonded and insured.

Hanson Services management told ABC Action News all of their approximately 40 caregivers are licensed, bonded and insured, and these two employees passed multiple background checks, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough to protect some clients.

"I just want them to know how sorry Hansen Services is that they were victims of someone who worked for us," Collins said. "It's rather sad for us to see this happening."

Hanson Services says they are cooperating with detectives and have reached out to all clients who have had contact with these two caregivers.

Detectives are continuing the investigation and ask that any other victims contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at 813-247-8200.

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Protecting aging parents from in-home caregivers