Man accused of abuse, neglect of disabled brother, elderly mother
CHURCH HILL — A church Hill man was arrested Wednesday morning on two counts of abuse — one pertaining to his 89-year-old mother and the other to his adult paraplegic brother.
Wayne Steven Bowles, 53, 327 Adam Street, Church Hill, is charged with two counts of “willful abuse, neglect, or exploitation of elderly or disabled adult.”
CHP Detective Kevin Grigsby launch an investigation earlier this month after several people and organizations filed police complaints about how Bowles allegedly “treated and mistreated his mother and brother.”
Grigsby stated that during his investigation he learned that Mary Bowles, 89 — who suffers from declining mental and physical health — lived with her son Russell Bowles, a paraplegic, with brain trauma from an automobile accident.
According to Grigsby’s affidavit, Wayne Bowles was supposedly the caretaker for his mother and brother.
Both victims reportedly received a large amount of money from social security every month.
Normally on the date the monies are deposited into the victims' account, there is a check written to Wayne Bowles, which according to his mother is to cover their bills, pay for groceries and pay for the mother and brother’s medications.
“Normally within a few days, the victims' bank account is overdrawn, the utility bills go unpaid, and only part of their medications are picked up,” Grigsby stated in his report. “The defendant has reportedly made statements to a Holston Electric employee while he was attempting to pay victims' power bill, that he would not do anything else to help his mother pay her bill, and that he would leave her to die in the cold and send the employee the obituary.”
Grigsby added, “There is little food in the home, and what victims do eat is delivered by First Tennessee Human Resources Agency daily. The victims lack of prescribed medications, along with the cancellation of doctor appointments, has led to a decline in both victims' health.”
Grigsby said both victims are unaware of the state of their finances or the amount they owe for utilities.”
There is evidence to show that the Wayne Bowles is exploiting his mother and brother for his financial gain, along with neglecting them to the point that their health has been negatively effected, Grigsby added.
Both abuse counts are Class E felonies punishable by 1-6 years in prison.
CHPD Chief Mark Johnson aid there is evidence showing this abuse has gone on as far back as 2009. The exact amount of money allegedly taken from the brother and mother by Bowles is not known at this time, although Johnson said it appears to be “a substantial amount.”
Johnson said the brother and mother were with very little food, and on at least three occasions non-relatives took it upon themselves to pay the electric bill.
“Everyone is presumed to be innocent until found guilty in a court of law,” Johnson said. “Nevertheless, the evidence in this case points toward the unnatural and evil treatment of blood relatives.”
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Sorry, but that is not human ,someone that can treat their mother and brother like that is shameful