Woman Locked Up Disabled Sister In Closet For 7 Years

A 44-year-old woman from Michigan kept her disabled adult sister locked in a closet for seven years with little food or water, police have revealed. Candy Lawson was arrested after an anonymous tip-off led cops to her home, where they discovered her sister imprisoned with little clothing and only a bucket to urinate in, Corunna Police said.
Police visited her home on July 9 for a welfare check and found the 42-year-old sister, who has “cognitive and physical impairments,” locked in a closet suffering from malnourishment and dehydration, the Argus-Press of Owosso reported.
“I’ve been in police for 35 years and never seen an adult abuse case of that type,” shocked police chief Nick Chiros said.
He revealed a handyman who visited her home had reported finding the woman locked up.
Police said the vulnerable woman was hospitalised for about a week before being placed in protective custody.
Lawson’s adult daughter and her boyfriend, along with their two children, also lived at the home, the Argus-Press reported.
Lawson, from Corunna, Mich., is charged with unlawful imprisonment, embezzlement from a vulnerable adult and vulnerable adult abuse, said Shiawassee County’s assistant prosecutor Daniel Nees.
The embezzlement from a vulnerable adult charge, which stems from public benefits that should have gone to the 42-year-old sister, could lead to a five-year sentence.
The unlawful imprisonment and vulnerable adult abuse charges both are punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Source – NYDN