Eldery abuse is filed

A Flomaton woman was arrested Jan. 31 for felony neglect of an elderly person when it was revealed she had left an elderly person in her charge without access to food or water for an unknown period of time.

Tiffany June Quebedeaux, 40, 1734 Roosevelt Lane, was charged with caring for an elderly man who was not able to care for himself when an officer responding to an elderly abuse complaint found the residence in deplorable conditions and the victim without access to food or water and no cellphone, according to an Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office report.

As an officer entered the residence on Jan 3. and announced his presence, he met two individuals. Cody Edward Comalander and Rebecca Lynn Fields, who had called 911. As he continued into the residence he observed multiple holes in the floor, some large enough to fall through. There were multiple pieces of fruits and vegetables around the kitchen with mold and pots with food left inside all covered with mold, the report said.

The officer observed dirty clothes and trash all over the floor throughout the mobile home. There was an elderly white male lying on a dirty mattress in his bedroom with multiple injuries to his arms and extremely outgrown nails and hair. The bedroom floor was covered in dirty clothes and trash and the strong odor of rotten food and body odor was throughout the residence, the report stated.

The officer spoke with the elderly gentleman, who stated he had been lying in the same spot in his bed for four to five days, since he last saw Quebedeaux, sometime between Dec. 28, 2022 and Jan. 3, 2023. He said she had taken his wallet and cellphone that she had let him keep to contact her. He stated he had no food or water available and that he was forced to fall out of the bed and crawl to the kitchen for food or water. He told the officer he did not take any medication but he was unable to walk or take care of himself. He also said he had no way to pay for anything or call for help and that he could not live alone. He said he was supposed to be under the care of Quebedeaux, according to the report.

The officer noted that he did not observe any fresh of edible food or water around the victim and there were no walking aides or phones he could use to contact EMS or get out of bed to use the bathroom.

EMS responded to the scene and the victim was transported to West Florida Hospital for medical treatment.

Fields told the officer she was a family friend who had come three or four days prior to check on the victim and she found him lying on the floor of the kitchen. She and Comalander picked him up and moved him to the bed. Fields said she observed the injuries on his arms but did not call 911 due to fear he would be placed in a nursing home, the report said.

Fields said when she arrived that day, she observed him to be wearing the same clothes and in the same position he was wearing the last incident. She attempted to contact Quebedeaux but was unable to reach her. She stated Quebedeaux had been leaving the residence on multiple occasions taking his wallet and the only phone he can use. She said this incident had been going on for some time and that Quebedeaux will bot respond to any calls.

When the officer spoke to Comalander, he told him a similar statement and advised that when he arrived that day he located a five-gallon bucket that was left for the victim to use the bathroom in. Comalander stated the bucket was half full of urine and feces and it appeared the victim had been urinating blood. Comalander said he observed the victim to be wearing the same clothes as the last incident so he assisted the victim in changing clothes while waiting for EMS, the report said.

The officer responded to 8720 Creamer Road where he observed a male with no shirt on next to a shed as he passed the residence. When he came back to the residence, he located a white Chevrolet truck still warm to the touch, the report noted. He knocked on the door and announced himself, but received no answer, although he noted that he heard footsteps inside the residence at the time.

After several attempts to reach Quebedeaux with each call going to voicemail, which was full, he was not able to contact Quebedeaux. A warrant was issued for her arrest.

Quebedeaux was arrested Jan. 31 and charged with felony neglect of an elderly disabled adult. She was transported to Escambia County Jail and given no bond pending first appearance.