The Jones County Sheriff’s Department arrested five individuals late on Wednesday afternoon following a narcotics search warrant at a residence on Masonite Lake Estates Road in the Myrick Community of Jones County. A sixth individual who had just pulled up at the residence as narcotics agents were arriving was detained, questioned, and later released without charges.

When JCSD narcotics agents executed the search warrant, they discovered five individuals in the residence, none of whom were related to the homeowner, who were all arrested following the discovery of methamphetamine and a plethora of drug paraphernalia in the residence and/or on their persons.

However, the most disturbing discovery that led to charges was the disabled elderly male homeowner living in squalid conditions with no care being provided by the five “friends” who had made themselves at home in his residence. All five have been charged with Abuse of a Vulnerable Adult as well as other illegal narcotics related charges.

“This is one of the most disturbing cases of alleged abuse of a vulnerable adult that our investigators have worked,” notes Jones County Sheriff Joe Berlin.

“Our narcotics agents were absolutely appalled at the conditions the victim was living in and his medical condition. This military veteran and former teacher was confined to a recliner and clothed in a hospital gown soaked in urine and covered in feces. None of the five individuals living there in his house assisted him to the restroom or cleaned him up over the course of several days.”

The five individuals charged are:

Heather Griffin, age 34
Charged with:
Abuse of a Vulnerable Adult; Possession of Methamphetamine

Richard Holifield, age 41
Charged with:
Abuse or a Vulnerable Adult; Possession of Paraphernalia

Wayne Moakley, age 57
Charged with:
Abuse of a Vulnerable Adult; Possession of Paraphernalia

Kristy Pitts, age 38
Charged with:
Abuse of a Vulnerable Adult; Possession of Methamphetamine

Brandy Watson, age 41
Charged with:
Abuse of a Vulnerable Adult; Possession of Paraphernalia

Sheriff Berlin concludes, “We thank the EMServ Ambulance Service medics and Powers Fire & Rescue emergency medical responders who responded to this awful scene to attend to this gentleman and get him transported by ambulance to South Central Regional Medical Center for treatment.”

All five arrested individuals will face a Jones County Justice Court judge on Friday at 1:00pm for their initial appearances in Jones County Justice Court.