An 87-year-old Sandy Springs resident was injured and needed medical care after an alleged abuse incident in the 1900 block of Huntingdon Chase, according to city detectives who moved in with an arrest on Thursday.
Investigators arrested Jeanine Pullins at the end of their probe. She is facing four counts of elder abuse or neglect and two counts of battery against a person over the age of 65, according to WSB‑TV. The outlet reports the 87-year-old victim received treatment for injuries and that the investigation pulled in help from Adult Protective Services and Fulton County Animal Control. Pullins was booked into the Fulton County Jail, the station notes. "Sandy Springs Police remain committed to protecting vulnerable members of our community," the department said.
Adult Protective Services investigates reports of abuse, neglect and exploitation of older adults and works with law enforcement to link victims to services, according to the Georgia Division of Aging Services. The agency operates a toll-free intake hotline and offers an online reporting form for suspected elder abuse or neglect.
Fulton County Animal Control’s role in the case indicates authorities were looking beyond the victim’s immediate medical condition and evaluating the overall environment in the home. Animal-control officers are typically called in when pets or living conditions raise welfare flags. Fulton County Animal Services handles animal-welfare investigations and often joins multi-agency cases alongside police.
Charges And What They Mean
Georgia law treats abuse, exploitation or willful denial of essential services to disabled adults and elder persons as serious crimes that can be prosecuted as felonies. State materials note that some offenses can bring sentences of up to 20 years in prison and fines reaching $50,000. The statutes also spell out that Adult Protective Services and law enforcement must coordinate whenever a report suggests possible criminal conduct, a framework designed to ensure that suspected wrongdoing is investigated and, when appropriate, prosecuted, according to an analysis from the Digital Library of Georgia.
What Happens Next
Pullins’ case will now move through Fulton County’s criminal courts. People booked into the county jail who do not post bond typically see a judge within 24 hours, according to the Fulton County Sheriff's Office. Sandy Springs Police list a non-emergency phone line and a public-records contact on the department’s website for tips and document requests. In an emergency, officials stress, residents should call 911.
Anyone who suspects elder abuse in Georgia can call Adult Protective Services intake at 1-866-552-4464 or submit an online report through the Division of Aging Services. Sandy Springs police and APS urge neighbors to speak up about troubling behavior so investigators can move quickly to protect vulnerable older adults.
