Woman charged with elder abuse

BEAUFORT - The caregiver of an elderly Carteret County woman has been arrested on charges related to an alleged incident of abuse.

Jennifer Nesta Hodges, 55, of Beaufort, was arrested Tuesday by the Beaufort Police Department and charged with one count of felony abuse of the disabled/elderly with injury. She was also charged with simple possession of a Schedule II controlled substance for the possession of four Darvocet pills for which she did not have a prescription.

Her bond was set at $5,000.

Hodges is accused of leaving the 80-year-old woman she was supposed to be caring for laying on the floor of the bathroom in her own feces for more than an hour, police said. The victim had fallen trying to get to the bathroom on her own because Hodges had not come to assist her, police said.

"Elder abuse is something that no one should tolerate, excuse or allow," said Beaufort Police Chief Steve Lewis. "It doesn't eliminate elder abuse altogether, but people searching for the right caregiver for the elderly should examine candidates carefully and seek out only those trained and licensed."

The name of the elderly woman was not released but police said the victim and Hodges are not related.

Beaufort police began an investigation into the alleged incident Dec. 28 after being called to a residence at Courtyard East to assist personnel with Beaufort Emergency Medical Service with a disturbance.

Hodges and her son were refusing to cooperate with EMTs attempting to evaluate the elderly woman, who was on the floor in the bathroom, according to a news release from the police department.

At one point Hodges' son blocked the access of EMTs and took an aggressive stance as if he was prepared to fight, police said.

While evaluating the woman, EMTs discovered signs that she had been on the floor for a long period of time. The elderly victim said she was in bed and had called for Hodges to assist her to the bathroom but she did not come, police said.

The elderly woman fell on the floor after walking to the bathroom herself and couldn't get back up.

Police said the victim called for Hodges after she fell and Hodges reportedly told her it was her own fault and left her on the floor.

Detective Phillip Lovoy investigated the incident and took out warrants for Hodges' arrest after conferring with the district attorney's office.

The police department will be seeking further charges on both Hodges and her son for obstructing emergency medical personnel.

Staff writer Jannette Pippin can be reached at jpippin@freedomenc.com or 910-382-2557.