Police: Woman charged after vulnerable adults found in unsafe environment

Courtesy: City of Orangeburg

Orangeburg, S.C. (WOLO)– Police with the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety say Shaneima Montgomery is charged with five counts of neglect of a vulnerable adult.

According to investigators, Montgomery was in charge of a facility on Broughton St. where vulnerable adults were living in an unsafe environment.

Police say the facility did not have a kitchen or bathing facilities and had a strong odor of urine.

In addition, police say the residents’ clothes and mattresses were heavily soiled.

An incident report also showed one resident was kept in a closet that was locked from the outside.

“I am deeply disturbed by the deplorable conditions in which we found the victims involved in these
heinous crimes against humanity,” said ODPS Chief Charles Austin, Sr. “I commend Sgt. Deloris Edmunds
and the team that worked with her to investigate and uncover the atrocities that were committed
against some of our vulnerable citizens whose families entrusted the personal care of their loved ones to
the suspects and their trust was betrayed.”

Officials say six residents were taken to MUSC Health in Orangeburg and are receiving care through the Department of Social Services.