A Georgia woman was arrested Friday when authorities found her 23-year-old son, who has autism and Williams syndrome, tied up in her home, Augusta-based news station WFXG reported.
Sarah Wadsworth, 48, of Grovetown, faces a felony charge of exploitation and intimidation of a disabled adult after her son was found with his arms tied behind his back and his ankles tied together with a rope, the news station reported.
Officers responded to the home off Whiskey Road after Adult Protective Services received a call, according to an incident report obtained by WFXG. Wadsworth allegedly opened the door briefly when officers knocked before shutting it and refusing to open it again.
Two more officers arrived at the house, and Wadsworth eventually opened the door and said everything was “OK,” the news station reported. When told that the officers were checking on her son, Michael Fappiano, she allegedly said he was fine and “he is in the back tied up.”
She added that Fappiano had been acting out, and she said she asked his doctor if she could tie him up, WFXG reported. He was found tied up with red marks on his wrists, and he smelled foul, the report said. Wadsworth allegedly said he had been tied up “since last weekend” and had not showered and urinated on himself.
Wadsworth said Fappiano hit her with a shovel and she “fears for their lives at night,” the news station reported. However, she did not notify police about those claims.
Fappiano and Wadsworth's daughter, who she said also has Williams syndrome and was in the home, were medically evaluated and taken to a temporary emergency licensed personal care home, WFGX reported. It's unclear whether her daughter has Williams syndrome, which is a rare genetic disorder that affects about 1 in 10,000 people, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Wadsworth was arrested and booked into the Columbia County Jail, where she remained Monday evening on an $11,200 bond, jail records show. She also faces a misdemeanor charge of battery (family violence).
In other news:
About the Author
