Elizabeth Drake, 38, was charged with one count of intentionally subjecting an individual at risk to abuse – causing bodily harm. (Photo courtesy: Brown County Jail)
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Elizabeth Drake is out of jail.
She’s the Green Bay woman accused of abusing her mother, who was found in filthy conditions where the two lived. Her attorney says mental health issues most likely played a role in the crimes his client is accused of committing.
Neighbors of the home on Vroman Street, where Elizabeth Drake lived with her mom, said they were shocked to learn about the abuse allegations. Not only did one neighbor say they never heard screams for help coming from the home, but they also never saw the two women who lived there.
According to the criminal complaint, it was a delivery driver who called police earlier this week after hearing pleas for help coming from inside the home.
Officers said they found Drake’s mother confined to her bed, covered with bugs as well as dried urine and feces. The home was so cluttered first responders report having difficulty navigating through it. And, the nurses treating the victim, who is believed to still be hospitalized, said she was also covered in bed sores.
Drake was taken into custody and eventually charged after she told authorities she was happy this happened so that her mother could be taken out of her life and she could continue doing whatever she wanted to do.
The criminal complaint says that meant spending time on her computer.
“There’s a lot of dysfunction in the family. It doesn’t excuse her or anything like that but I believe it would be a mitigating factor,” said Jevon Jaconi, Elizabeth Drake’s attorney.
Jaconi says Drake has lived with her mom for the past five to ten years, but it was only about a year ago, after her sister died, did she become more responsible for helping to care for her mom.
He was not sure if she was legally appointed her guardian.
Drake, who is the administrator of the Green Bay Crime Reports Facebook page, which has more than 150,000 followers, posted to the page late Friday afternoon, disputing claims in the criminal complaint.
In a blog post, Drake referred to herself as the caretaker of a Munchausen parent, saying her mother labored her into indentured servitude.
While the victim claimed to be bedridden for about a year, Drake said it was only about four weeks. And she reiterated that despite trying to help her mother, the victim chose to live in squalor.
Her attorney said he will ensure she receives her due process and let the case run through the court system, adding, “During discovery I think we’ll find a lot of issues that arise that not necessarily excuse the behavior but might mitigate it, given the family dynamics and interplay with mental health.”
Drake is due back in court January 3rd.
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