MOUNTAIN GROVE, Mo. — A Mountain Grove woman faces a misdemeanor elder abuse charge following a Nov. 11 investigation in which officers discovered allegedly unsanitary living conditions inside a residence occupied by a bedridden woman.
Reneta June Heard has been charged with a class A misdemeanor of abuse of an elderly, disabled or vulnerable person in Wright County Associate Circuit Court.
According to a probable cause statement filed Nov. 12 by Mountain Grove Police Department Master Patrolman J. Perrien, the investigation began around 2:27 p.m. Nov. 11 after an employee of Mercy Clinic contacted law enforcement requesting a welfare check on a patient.
Medical staff reported that home health visits had repeatedly been canceled and rescheduled. According to the statement, the patient was unaware of the scheduled appointments or their cancellations, raising concerns that someone was preventing medical personnel from entering the residence.
During a telephone conversation with a nurse, the patient reportedly expressed concerns about her safety and indicated she could not speak freely because her daughter might be listening.
Perrien responded to the residence and reported detecting a strong odor of animal waste and trash. Through a window, he observed feces and debris scattered throughout the entryway.
According to the statement, Heard answered the door but questioned the need for another welfare check, stating that officers had contacted her mother the previous day. When Perrien requested to speak with the woman in person, Heard reportedly refused access and returned inside the home.
After reviewing previous reports documenting similar concerns at the residence, Perrien obtained a search warrant.
At approximately 7:21 p.m., Mountain Grove officers returned to execute the warrant. According to the probable cause statement, Heard resisted officers’ attempts to detain her before being taken into custody.
Inside the residence, officers reportedly discovered large amounts of trash, animal feces and urine throughout the home. The accumulation of debris left only narrow walkways between rooms.
Officers located the bedridden woman in a bedroom containing trash, animal waste and bags of used urine pads. Investigators reported that limited space around the bed made access difficult.
The woman reportedly told officers she had been unaware of the canceled medical appointments. Emergency medical personnel subsequently transported her to Texas County Memorial Hospital in Houston for evaluation.
According to the probable cause statement, Heard was arrested on suspicion of elder abuse, resisting arrest and animal abuse or neglect. She was transported to the Wright County Jail without further incident.
Animal control officers also responded to the residence and removed two dogs. Live traps were left in an attempt to capture cats remaining inside the home.
Court records list the filed charge against Heard as a class A misdemeanor under Missouri Revised Statute 565.184. The case is filed as 26WR-CR00565 in Wright County Associate Circuit Court.
All charges are allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
