Roswell police say they shut down an unlicensed senior-care operation on Worthington Hills Drive and arrested its operator, 58-year-old Deborah Callaway, after finding 10 vulnerable adults living in cramped, makeshift sleeping areas. The investigation started in early January as a missing-person search, and officers later located the missing man safe at an Atlanta shelter. Officials said all residents received immediate medical evaluations and were moved to licensed housing.
How officers uncovered the operation
According to a Roswell Police Department press release carried by FOX 5 Atlanta, officers served a search warrant at the Worthington Hills Drive home after detectives followed up on the missing-person call. "What began as a routine missing person call evolved into a major protective operation," Chief James Conroy said in the release. Investigators told FOX 5 Atlanta they found evidence suggesting Callaway had been exploiting residents' financial resources for personal gain.
Conditions inside the home
Police say 10 adults were living at the property, with two or three people sometimes sharing a room. Some residents were placed in converted living rooms, dining areas and other spaces not meant to be bedrooms, and investigators also found a backyard shed that had been repurposed as a makeshift bedroom. The Roswell Fire Department, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Fulton County district attorney's office, Adult Protective Services and the state's Healthcare Facility Regulation Division assisted with the operation, and residents were moved to licensed facilities. Authorities asked anyone with information to contact the Roswell Police at 770-640-4100 or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers Atlanta, according to the press release via FOX 5 Atlanta.
Charges and legal fallout
Callaway was arrested and faces charges including elder exploitation, elder trafficking, financial transaction card fraud, theft by taking and third-degree forgery. Police said additional charges could be filed as the inquiry continues. Under state law, operating an unlicensed personal care home can lead to civil penalties and criminal sanctions, see O.C.G.A. § 31-7-12.1, and Georgia's Healthcare Facility Regulation unit oversees licensure and investigations into unlicensed facilities.
Why this matters
Unlicensed personal-care homes have been a recurring problem across Georgia, with past reporting and enforcement actions documenting cases of neglect, abuse and financial exploitation that prompted legislative and regulatory attention. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and other outlets have tracked similar crackdowns in recent years as state and local agencies work to protect at-risk adults.
Roswell police say the investigation remains active and Callaway is in custody while prosecutors review the evidence. Officials urged anyone who suspects an unlicensed care operation to contact the Department of Community Health's oversight unit or local law enforcement so residents can be evaluated and, if necessary, rehoused in licensed settings.
