Brett Arthur
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following article contains graphic depictions of abuse and neglect. Reader discretion is advised.
A paraprofessional at B. Michael Caudill Middle School was arrested earlier this week and is facing charges of abuse and neglect after police discovered a woman and two juveniles living in deplorable conditions.
Officers with the Richmond Police Department (RPD) arrested Amy Banks on March 6 at B. Michael Caudill Middle School. Banks is listed on the staff page of the school as a paraprofessional.
According to a warrant for Banks, officers with the RPD were called on Feb. 22 to investigate reports that an elderly woman became lost while walking a dog.
When officers found the woman, the warrant indicated that she appeared disoriented. The officers managed to escort her home.
After officers arrived at the woman’s home, text in the warrant indicates they found feces smeared on the front door. Police also soon discovered the home did not have working electricity.
Official police reports indicated officers also noticed the house smelled of urine, feces, and spoiled food, and as they walked through the house the floor was covered in an unknown sticky substance.
Further documentation by police described the house as “filled with trash, making it impossible to walk through the kitchen” and counters “covered in rotten food.”
The toilets inside the home also appeared to not be working, but were still being used.
Emergency medical services (EMS) were called to the home, and the woman was transported to Baptist Health Richmond to receive treatment.
While investigating the home, officers also found a locked bedroom door and were eventually able to gain entry to the room. Inside the room, police found a dirty mattress with dirty blankets and pillows.
According to police records, officers learned the room belonged to two juveniles and discovered Banks was responsible for the care of both the juveniles and the adult woman.
An arrest warrant indicated the two juveniles involved in the case told investigators they visit Banks every other week, but when she is responsible for them she leaves them with the elderly woman.
The juveniles allegedly told police Banks brought them food a few times a day. The adult woman also told police Banks is the only person responsible for her care and allegedly collects her social security checks, but does not use the money towards care services for her or the juveniles.
Banks was charged with knowingly abusing/neglecting an adult person and endangering the welfare of a minor. She was lodged in the Madison County Detention Center.
Calls for comment from the Madison County School System were not returned in time for press deadline.
The Register collects and publishes police reports as a public service to its readers. The reports often contain allegations against individuals and do not mean the individuals committed a crime. All people named in connection with a crime are presumed innocent until guilty in a court of law.
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