Gaines jailed on accusations her mentally disabled sister in Atmore likely starved to death
A Montgomery woman has been arrested on intentional murder charges in the death of her 26-year old mentally handicapped sister, whose badly decomposed body was discovered in Atmore March 26, with accusations that the victim lived without food, water and electricity while her sister cashed her Social Security disability checks designed to take care of her sister, Vandoren Dailey.
Josephine Dailey Gaines, 34, who also had an address listed as 1350 Armstrong Road, Monroeville, was arrested Aug. 9 by Atmore police following a traffic stop when officers identified her as having outstanding warrants for her arrest on murder charges. She's being held on $500,000 bond.
According to Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks, Gaines was transported to the Atmore City Jail and while the officers were escorting her into the building, Gaines fled on foot. After a short chase, she was taken into custody and now faces an additional charge of escape III.
The warrant charging Gaines with murder stems from a March 26, 2020, incident when Atmore police responded to a burglary call at 71 Jones St.
According to reports, when officers arrived at the Jones Street address they determined the home had been forcibly entered.
Officers entered the house and found a badly decomposed body in a bedroom. The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences identified the body as Dailey through dental records.
Chief Brooks said during the investigation, officers learned that Dailey had been left alone at home for several months and that she could not care for herself. They also discovered that her sister, Gaines, was responsible for her care.
The arrest warrant says Gains failed to provide her sister with care, failing to provide necessary food, water and shelter for her.
During a bond hearing Tuesday, District Attorney Steve Billy told District Judge Eric Coale that forensic reports show the victim weighed 33 pounds when her body was found. He also said records showed there had been no running water at 71 Jones St., since 2018 and no power since December, 2019.
Billy also stated that Gaines was receiving Social Security disability checks on behalf of her sister, which were to be used to take care of Dailey. He also said Gaines continued to receive, and cash, disability checks after her sister died.
Billy said the only food in the house was canned goods and due to Dailey's mental and physical conditions she would have been unable to open the cans. The arrest warrant noted Dailey “was severely mentally retarded and unable to provide for her own care.”
Billy also said he's waiting to receive records from the Social Security Administration on how much money Gaines received to take care of her sister.
