A caregiver in Florida was arrested after she moved out of the state and allegedly left her 81-year-old dementia patient to sleep outside in a tent.
Karie Lynn Lightfoot was arrested and charged with elder neglect following the incident.
Deputies with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home in Ocala after investigators with the Department of Children and Families found the woman outside on June 3, according to an arrest warrant viewed by Us.
The woman reportedly has dementia and mobility issues. While speaking to authorities, she said that Lightfoot, 53, was her caregiver and that she placed her in the tent outside of her home.
Lightfoot allegedly left the victim with limited food and water, and she was unable to get into the home because the tent was placed too far away from the residence. A mattress and some small appliances were reportedly included in the tent, but there was not much else for the victim to survive with.
The arrest warrant stated that Lightfoot gave the victim adult diapers despite the victim being unable to change them herself. Authorities added that the victim was allegedly living in the tent for about a week before she was found.
The victim’s son, who was out of the country for work at the time of the incident, reportedly told authorities that Lightfoot had been caring for his mother for about two years. He added that she left when she decided she no longer wanted to care for the woman.
After Lightfoot decided to leave the job, she allegedly moved to Texas and forced the victim to stay inside the tent. She also allegedly never made an effort to find someone else to take care of the victim.
The victim suffered a fall after Lightfoot left her, and she was taken to a hospital for treatment. Her current condition has not been shared.
The victim was expected to move to a nursing home once she was discharged from the hospital, per the warrant.
Lightfoot was arrested on Saturday, July 11, and was taken to the Marion County Jail. She has since been released after she posted a $2,000 bond.
It is not currently clear if Lightfoot has entered a plea or retained legal counsel following her arrest. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office had not additional updates to share when contacted by Us about the case.
If you are experiencing elder abuse or suspect someone you know is, you can call the Eldercare Locator at (800) 677-1116 and speak to a specially trained operator who can refer you to a local agency that can help. The Eldercare Locator accepts calls Monday through Friday, between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
