CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — A jury found a 74-year-old caregiver guilty in the death of her patient who froze to death in 2014.
Police said Dale El Smith watched television while the 66-year-old victim with intellectual disabilities spent 10 hours outside in the freezing temperatures in January.
Police said an adult day care service didn't pick up Pelham, who was bipolar and schizophrenic, because of the bad weather. According to the warrant, the victim told a neighbor Smith would not let him back inside.
Police said Smith told them she didn't give Pelham a key because of his mental condition. Officers said Smith told them she was watching television while Pelham spent hours out in the frigid cold.
“I think he just had on jeans and a jacket. Just a small jacket,” said neighbor Andre Higgs.
A neighbor finally called 911.
Police said Smith told them she thought the transportation company had picked up Pelham.
Smith was sentenced to life with parole plus 20 years.
Channel 2's Tom Jones is in the courtroom trying to get reaction on the decision. We'll have live updates coming up on Channel 2 Action News at 5 & 6 p.m.