A Hialeah woman has been arrested and charged with neglect and battery after police say she mistreated her 77-year-old mother, leaving her in unsanitary and unsafe conditions. According to authorities, 49-year-old Janet Edwards was taken into custody after her daughter came forward with evidence showing the abuse.
The disturbing case came to light when Edwards’ daughter provided photos and text messages to investigators that documented her grandmother’s condition. NBC Miami reported that officers responding to the family’s home found the elderly woman locked in a powerless room, sitting in filth, with feces on her hands.
She was later transported to a hospital for medical evaluation and observation. Court documents reveal that Edwards had been neglecting her mother’s basic care needs and showed little concern for her well-being. Her daughter told police that she had personally witnessed Edwards slap her grandmother on several occasions. A second witness later corroborated this account, according to Local 10 News.
Edwards was charged with neglect of an elderly or disabled adult, with no harm, and battery on a person 65 or older. The arrest report also described Edwards’ dismissive attitude toward her mother’s condition. Investigators said that when advised to clean her mother, she responded, “No, she’s going to learn because she is always doing this.”
In addition to the photos, investigators reviewed text messages in which Edwards allegedly acknowledged neglecting her mother. In one message, she reportedly wrote, “She smelled s— and was going back to bed.” During questioning, Edwards admitted to being aware of her mother’s behavior but denied hitting or intentionally harming her.
However, based on the evidence and witness statements, police arrested her and booked her into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. Local 10 reported that Edwards appeared before a judge, who ordered her to have no contact with her mother as a condition of her release. The court granted her pre-trial release on an alternate bond set at $3,500.
The victim remains under medical care and observation while authorities continue to investigate the extent of her injuries and living conditions. Neighbors expressed shock at the allegations, describing the family as quiet and private. Social services are reportedly reviewing the case to ensure the elderly woman receives proper care moving forward.
The case serves as a grim reminder of the growing issue of elder neglect and abuse — a problem that authorities say is often hidden until a family member or witness comes forward to speak out.