A Daleville mother and daughter face charges after the daughter’s 52-year-old father was found beaten and locked away inside a home with feces and trash for months.
The victim’s wife, Stephanie Jeter, 42, and daughter, Lauren Jeter, 20, were arrested and charged with neglect of a disabled adult and cruelty to animals Sept. 20.
Daleville Department of Public Safety Chief Harvey Mathis said an officer was called on Sept. 17 to perform a welfare check at 303 Plaza Drive by neighbors who had not seen the man in some time and were wondering about his well being and safety.
“When the officer got there, he saw that the conditions were pretty bad,” Mathis said.
After noticing the conditions inside the home, Mathis said the officer called Dale County Department of Human Resources for assistance.
Daleville Department of Public Safety investigators, and the Dale County DHR returned to the home on Sept. 20 to check on the man’s welfare.
“We could see that there was a large amount of trash piled at the back door,” Mathis said. “We talked with the neighbors. Neighbors said they haven’t seen him out for a while (so) we made forced entry into the home.”
Once inside, Mathis said the victim told police he had a medical condition and had not been treated for months.
“He indicated to us that he’s been locked in the house for several months, he’s been fed a can of soup a day and that he’s been physically beaten by his caretakers, which were his wife and daughter,” Mathis said. “When we got there, there was one arm that he had no use of. He had not been getting his medication.”
The victim was taken to Flowers Hospital for a physical exam.
“Based on what (the victim) told us and what we could see inside, it was clear he had not been take care of properly,” Mathis said.
Mathis said the home had an overpowering smell and piles of trash and feces were everywhere.
“Trash piled up everywhere inside (and there was) dog feces on the floor,” he said.
Mathis said officers also found a neglected male Pomeranian dog.
“His fur was matted with feces (and) his toenails had grown circles almost back into (themselves),” he said. “The hair was so thick and matted the male dog couldn’t even lift his leg to urinate. The dog could barely walk.”
Mathis said the mother and daughter were also charged with cruelty to animals. The dog has since been placed into a foster care.
Both suspects are being held at the Dale County Jail under a $15,000 bond each.
The victim is now being cared for by the Dale County Department of Human Resources.
Mathis said the department will continue working alongside Dale County DHR to make sure he is taken care of.
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