Gladys Knight Is ‘Healthy And Happy' Despite Son's Elder Abuse Claims Against Her Husband

Story by Jeroslyn JoVonn

Gladys Knight, 81, is speaking up following her son’s claims that she’s a victim of elder abuse at the hands of her husband.

According to the music icon’s son, Shanga Hankerson is being mentally and financially abused by her husband, William McDowell. But, the “Midnight Train to Georgia” singer, who’s currently performing live as part of The Queens Tour with fellow legends Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, and Stephanie Mills, released a statement via her publicist, Laura Herlovich, assuring fans that all is well.

“I’m sorry that my health and performances have been misrepresented,” Knight told People. “I want my fans and those concerned to rest assured I am doing very well for someone who has been on stage for three quarters of a century, hard to believe, right? I’m healthy and happy and visiting friends and family these last few months. I’m excited to get back on the road with my sisters and on stage with The Queens Tour. See you soon."

Knight's statement came days after her son criticized her busy touring schedule as “detrimental” to her health. While Knight hasn't expressed a desire to stop performing, Hankerson claims she is “on cruise control” and pointed to recent alleged memory lapses. This past New Year's, for example, he claims the legendary vocalist didn't recognize him.

Hankerson also spoke with The Shade Room about an incident last year when Knight allegedly wandered away from their hotel and ended up across town.

Hankerson is accusing McDowell of letting his mother continue touring despite her alleged health issues.

"I did my best to give [McDowell] the space to play the role of husband and do what was in my mom's best interest, and he has not done that,” Hankerson said. “Why is she working? Why is she in this situation where she's being made to believe that she has to work like this? That's really my issue with it.”

But Knight’s publicist, Laura Herlovich, said Knight and her team are "greatly saddened by Shanga's unfounded allegations," and that he "has had no substantial contact with her." As a result, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer plans to take “any and all legal remedies due to Shanga's defamatory comments,” Herlovich said.

Hankerson remains adamant that Knight’s "deterioration has occurred over a period of years, and is very evident." He is open to taking legal action against McDowell, whom Knight has been married to since 2001, saying he is “fighting to make sure I can really take care of" the singer.

He said the reason he hasn’t seen or spoken to his mother is because he has been "purposefully kept in a position of having minimal access" to her. "This has nothing to do with money for me," Hankerson said. "I'm trying to get her to stop working."

Gladys Knight rose to fame in the 1960s and '70s as the lead singer of Gladys Knight & the Pips, performing with her brother and two cousins. She later enjoyed a successful solo career, winning three of her seven Grammy Awards as a solo artist.

Hankerson is Knight's only child with ex-husband and record producer Barry Hankerson, whom she was marriedto from 1974 to 1979. She also has two other sons, James III and Kenya, with her first husband, James Newman (1960–1973). Knight was married to former Ohio representative Les Brown from 1995 to 1997 before marrying McDowell in 2001. 

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Gladys Knight Is ‘Healthy And Happy' Despite Son's Elder Abuse Claims Against Her Husband 

Gladys Knight’s Son Accuses Her Husband of Elder Abuse Amid Health Concerns | TSR Investigates

Gladys Knight’s family is at odds over her safety, health, and ability to keep touring. Last week, her son, Shanga Hankerson, claimed that the 80-year-old music legend is showing signs of cognitive decline and accused her husband, William McDowell, of elder abuse — alleging he’s forcing her to perform despite her condition. 

According to court filings, the conflict escalated after a troubling incident in a New York hotel, where Knight allegedly wandered off late at night without knowing where she was. Her son says he’s been locked out of speaking with her and has now gone to the Department of Human Services to intervene. 

The accusations have sparked heated debate among fans about elder care, family disputes, and the pressures placed on aging performers. Now, the public is left wondering: Is this a misunderstanding fueled by family tension, or a serious case of abuse hidden behind closed doors? 

 TSR Investigates, with Justin Carter, explores cold cases and special interest news stories underrepresented in mainstream media. 

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Gladys Knight’s Son Accuses Her Husband of Elder Abuse Amid Health Concerns | TSR Investigates 

I-Team: Bedridden man in group home told police he had not eaten in days; agency investigates elder abuse claims

Nevada state office investigates allegations about vulnerable, elderly adults

 

by: David Charns

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A recent allegation of elder abuse and neglect involved a man telling police he had not eaten in three days, documents obtained by the I-Team said. The case began with a report made to Adult Protective Services (APS), a state program investigating claims of suspected abandonment, abuse, exploitation, isolation or neglect.

A team of investigators and social workers is tasked with keeping our parents and grandparents safe, including any vulnerable adult who is entrusted into another person’s care.

The office, formerly known as the Elder Protective Services program, classifies a vulnerable adult as someone who is in the care of another person between between the ages of 18 and 59. A person older than 60 is considered an older person when it comes to the state definition.

In one case, a supervisor informed APS about an allegation at an independent group home in Las Vegas. According to an arrest report for the homeowner, one man in the home was “bedridden and unable to care for himself” and begged “for food and stated that he [had] not eaten for three days.”

The home’s owner, Salome Rosales, is charged with four counts of abuse and neglect of an older or vulnerable person, court documents said. The report said one resident told police the home is full of tenants with “memory loss” who “need additional medical care.”

One resident told police she had fallen off her bed and broke a finger and “did not get any medical attention at the time of the fall,” according to the report.

“Even just one case of elder abuse needs to be considered a problem,” Tammy Seaver, social services chief with APS, said. “I think one of the most important things you could do is to make sure our vulnerable population is protected and receiving the care that they so deserve.”

Last year, APS responded to more than 9,000 allegations involving adults over the age of 60. 

Reports to APS can come in several forms. Oftentimes, a family member will report an allegation. Mandated reporters, including doctors, hospital employees, social workers and musical therapists, are required to report any suspicions.

But, not all cases move forward.

“If a client does not want us to pursue, we cannot go further into the investigation,” Seaver said.

Data obtained by the I-Team shows out of more than 6,600 closed cases statewide last year, APS found 565 cases of substantiated abuse, 442 cases of exploitation and 258 cases of neglect. The total number of cases was slightly higher year-over-year from fiscal year 2020 to 2019, Seaver said.

“It’s starting to be talked about more, and people understand that there are problems out there that need to be reported,” she said.

If criminal charges are warranted in Southern Nevada, APS will forward the case to Metro Police.

Rosales remains out on bail with the stipulation she not house any elderly adults.

APS has two phone numbers to make a report:

• Clark County: (702) 486-6930
• Statewide: (888) 729-0571
  

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I-Team: Bedridden man in group home told police he had not eaten in days; agency investigates elder abuse claims

Suspected Elder Abuse Claims Quadrupled in 4 Years — Here's What to Know and How to Protect Your Loved Ones

By Alix Langone

Older Americans are at risk for losing more money than ever, thanks to a rise in financial exploitation targeting the elderly.

Financial scams and other crimes singling out older Americans quadrupled from 2013 to 2017 and involved more than $6 billion in fraud, according to a new report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The report examined 180,000 Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) filed to the federal government by banks and other financial services providers. In 2017, 63,500 such reports were filed, representing more than $1.7 billion in suspicious activities that year alone, up from 15,600 reports and just under $600 million in 2013.

SARs are a way for financial services providers to notify government agencies and law enforcement of suspected financial crimes, and they are mandatory when a suspicious transaction involves at least $5,000 (or $2,000 for money services firms such as money order businesses check cashers and currency dealers).

Americans aged 70 to 79 suffered the greatest individual financial losses, at an average of $45,300. Overall, the average amount lost across all older age groups was more than $33,000, but that number jumped to $50,000 when the theft was being committed by someone the person knew, according to the report. If a stranger was involved, the average loss was $17,000. One third of the adults who lost money were 80 years-old and over, and they experienced the second highest average losses at $39,200.

Financial exploitation can happen to anyone, but older adults are more vulnerable to money schemes due to issues that disproportionately affect them, such as cognitive decline, social isolation, being dependent on a caregiver or experiencing financial insecurity themselves.

But many of the financial crimes against older Americans go unreported, with financial institutions failing to report the abuse to the proper authorities, the CFPB says, creating a missed opportunity to better protect seniors. The CFPB report estimates that more than 3.5 million instances of of elder financial abuse took place in 2017 alone.

One of the most common ways fraudsters ask older Americans to send them cash is by wire transfer — transactions that can’t reversed — meaning the senior who was tricked can never get his or her money back. More than half, or 58%, of SARs reports in 2017 were filed by money services businesses, which are frequently used to facilitate wire transfers, compared to just 15% in 2013, according to the report.

To avoid be taken advantage of by a family member or a stranger, the CFPB recommends some basic steps you can follow to protect yourself or a loved one.

• Plan ahead to take on power of attorney for a loved one who develops cognitive decline, or determine a trusted fiduciary who will do so.
• Secure private financial documents, monitor bank accounts, set up automatic payments and transaction alerts, and request receipts from designated caregivers.
• Do not let caregivers pay bills or use the potential victim’s credit card.
• Do not promise money to caregivers or family members after your death.
• Be wary of anything that seems “too good to be true” when it comes to investments, and be aware of Ponzi schemes.
• Understand FDIC insurance to know how you are protected.
• Avoid lottery, charity and phantom debt scams. Be aware of medical and mortgage scams, too.
• Never give money to people over the phone. For example, the IRS never asks for payment over the phone, so if you receive a call from someone saying it is the agency, hang up and call back on your own.
• Report any kind of fraud you encounter immediately.

If you believe you or someone close to you has been the victim of elder financial fraud you can report it to the Federal Trade commission here, or find your local adult protect services (APS) agency via the Eldercare Locator.


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Suspected Elder Abuse Claims Quadrupled in 4 Years — Here's What to Know and How to Protect Your Loved Ones