North Charleston police say a 66-year-old woman is facing charges after officers found her 90-year-old husband, who has dementia, injured and living in squalor inside their home.
Officers arrested Teresa Marie Mills and charged her with neglect and abuse of a vulnerable adult after a welfare check at the couple's North Kenwood Drive house revealed what authorities described as unsafe and unsanitary conditions. The man was taken to a hospital under emergency protective custody while the investigation continues.
Neighbors and other callers had contacted police after seeing the older man sitting on the front porch, prompting the welfare check, according to what officers later told reporters.
Police responded shortly after 7:30 p.m. on July 12 and found the man outside the home, disoriented and unable to clearly communicate, according to WKRC Local 12. Officers called emergency medical services after seeing what they reported as visible injuries and blood on the man's body.
Once inside, officers described a "strong, overwhelming odor" throughout the house and reported feces and urine stains on surfaces, along with signs of rodent activity, including chewed boxes and belongings, Live 5 reported. Court records cited by local outlets show Mills was booked into the Al Cannon Detention Center and held on a $75,000 bond.
Mills told officers that her husband had fallen the day before but that she did not call for medical help, according to WBTV. She also reportedly said a caregiver visits the home once a week to help with bathing and that she had gone out to dinner with friends the night her husband fell.
Officers placed the man into emergency protective custody and transported him to a local hospital for treatment. North Charleston police say the investigation remains active, and authorities have not released further public details about the man's condition or any upcoming court dates.
Charges and legal context
Neglect and abuse of a "vulnerable adult" in South Carolina fall under the Omnibus Adult Protection Act, which outlines responsibilities for caregivers and mandatory reporters. Certain failures to report suspected abuse are treated as misdemeanors, while neglect or abuse that results in great bodily injury or death is a felony, according to the South Carolina Code.
Under that law, law enforcement or Adult Protective Services can place a vulnerable adult into emergency protective custody when there is probable cause to believe the person faces imminent danger. Cases can then be referred to state investigators or prosecutors for potential criminal charges.
How to report suspected abuse
State officials stress that anyone who suspects abuse or neglect of an adult in South Carolina can report it, even if they are not certain what is happening behind closed doors.
Reports can be made to Adult Protective Services by calling 1-888-CARE4US (1-888-227-3487) or by submitting an online report through the South Carolina Department of Social Services. North Charleston police said the man in this case was taken to a local hospital and that the investigation is ongoing, according to WKRC Local 12.
