Honk News (Richmond County, GA) – A Georgia woman has been taken into custody for reportedly neglecting her elderly and disabled mother to the extent that the 82-year-old was discovered adhered to her bed as a result of untreated bedsores.
Tyrossale Peak, 54, has been charged with neglecting a disabled adult following a welfare check by police that led to the discovery of her mother, Lillie Sapp. The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office indicates that she was booked on December 30. Reports from a local ABC affiliate and The Augusta Press indicate that Sapp was expected to be in hospice care but was taken out in June for reasons that remain unclear.
On December 30, deputies arrived at the residence located in the 2900 block of Rollingwood Drive in Augusta, where Peak’s mother was staying, to conduct a welfare check following a tip-off from an individual. Upon their arrival, they reportedly discovered Sapp in bed — her skin adhered to the mattress — with a strong odor of bodily fluid and an infestation of roaches, according to the sheriff’s office.
The 82-year-old was allegedly behaving irrationally while authorities attempted to retrieve her body and provide necessary medical assistance. Emergency responders, including EMS personnel and firefighters, were summoned to help with her extraction, which required cutting a section of the mattress.
Sapp was taken to Wellstar MCG Health, where her condition was reported as stable. Peak spent the weekend incarcerated without the option for bail.
As detailed in the arrest report acquired by Law&Crime, Peak mentioned in conversations with law enforcement and emergency services that Sapp had “lost a bit of weight but she was fine.” She stated that her mother last visited a healthcare provider in June, when she was discharged from hospice care.
According to the arrest report, a responding officer noted that Peak informed EMS that she provides Sapp with meals every morning and ensures that she consumes two to three Ensures daily. “Upon entering the kitchen area, I discovered it to be overrun with roaches,” the officer reported. “The sink was brimming with unwashed dishes scattered everywhere.”
Officials report that Peak took it upon herself to end her mother’s hospice care and neglected to offer sufficient treatment, resulting in the claimed elder abuse. The reason for her mother’s hospice care remains uncertain.
If found guilty of felony neglect, Peak could be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years behind bars.