Couple accused of exploiting elderly man with dementia, selling his wedding ring

PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. — Two people are accused of intimidating an elderly man into letting them live in his house.

Peachtree City police said William Porter, 55, and Ericka Porter, 51, took advantage of the man's mental condition.

Police said the two continually visited the 79-year-old at the Towne Club senior living facility and got him to sign paperwork allowing them move into his house on Hilltop Drive.

"They appear to have intimidated him or convinced him to sign this lease committing an act of fraud against this poor man," said Peachtree police Lt. Mark Brown. 

Workers at the victim's assisted living facility and his neighbors alerted police.

"We've always looked after him because his health is failing and he has dementia," said neighbor Joy Thompson.

Investigators said not only were the Porters living in the home illegally, they said the two were also selling the victim's property

"They were very personal items from what I understand," said Brown. "One specifically was a wedding ring."

"That's memories for him and that's really sad that people would take advantage," said Thompson.

Next door neighbor Duane Clark told Channel 2's Carl Willis that he never noticed anything out of the ordinary.

"They kind of came and went," said Clark. "They just appeared there one day and were moving things out and moving themselves in."

Police said the move was part of a pattern for the two.

"They weren't able to pay rent here," said former neighbor Brad Boseman. "Now, all of a sudden they're moving over here and they're paying rent. It just didn't seem like it added up."

The suspects were both charged with exploitation and intimidation of a disabled elderly person and burglary. Both charges are felonies.

WSBTV