A Clayton County woman told police she was watching television while a man in her care froze to death outside. Nearly four months later, the 73-year-old caretaker has been charged with murder.
Temperatures were in the 20s on Jan. 6 when police found a 66-year-old man dead outside a group home, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported. Arthur Pelham was found face down in the backyard of a Whaleys Lake Lane home, near Jonesboro, police said. Pelham was transported to the hospital, but did not survive.
On Sunday, Pelham’s caretaker, Dale El Smith, was arrested and charged with murder and cruelty to a person 65 years or order, according to Clayton County police. She was being held without bond Thursday night.
“It’s a shame because the gentleman shouldn’t have passed,” a neighbor, Andre Higgs, told Channel 2 Action News on Thursday.
In January, Pelham, who was bipolar and schizophrenic, was outside waiting for an adult day care service to pick him up, according to police. But the transportation never arrived, due to the weather, police said.
Smith allegedly told police she thought Pelham had been picked up, Channel 2 reported. Smith told police she was watching television for 10 hours while Pelham was outside. A neighbor called 911 after finding Pelham.
Smith was denied bond at her first court appearance Monday. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 20 at 8 a.m.
About the Author
