Couple accused of abusing senior in her own home

DUNWOODY, Ga. — A DeKalb County couple faces charges of assaulting and exploiting a disabled Dunwoody woman for at least two years.

Joseph Taylor and his wife, Lakeshia, refused to answer any questions when Channel 2's Tony Thomas approached them after their court appearances Thursday night.

Both are officially charged with the felony of elder exploitation.

Dunwoody police said the husband and wife moved into a 65-year-old woman's house in 2011 to act as the woman's caretakers. But in the following months, police said the couple took advantage of the woman.

Arrest warrants allege Joseph and Lakeshia assaulted and battered the woman, leaving visible injuries.

Detectives said they also financially exploited the woman and denied her "transportation to obtain medical services."

The warrants also allege they threatened to "put her in a home" if they were not given money.

Joseph Taylor is also charged with misdemeanor battery after police said he grabbed the woman by the neck and hair and threw her to the ground on Monday.

A magistrate judge ordered Joseph to be held on a $10,000 bond. Lakeshia is jailed on $5,000 bond.

In court, Lakeshia told the judge she's worked for the past four years as a "patient caretaker" at a local hospital. Her husband worked as a landscaper during the day.

Both will be back in court next month for preliminary hearings.

Thomas tried talking to the victim in the case, but another person at her home refused to allow her to talk about what happened or the charges.

WSBTV