OFFICIALS INFORMED OF WIDOW.Byline: Patricia Farrell Aidem and Mary Schubert Daily News Staff Writers When a neighbor heard feeble cries for help 10 months ago from the old Cartwright Motel in Val Verde Val Verde may mean:
Cartwright had been left alone on a mattress with no bedding that June day last year and had fallen between a wall and dresser, said sheriff's Detective Bob Campbell. There were no lights on in her tiny living quarters at the quaint country inn: no radio, no TV, no telephone, Campbell said. A favorite chair was soiled with human filth Filth See also Dirtiness. Augean stables held 3,000 oxen, uncleaned for 30 years; Hercules’ fifth labor: washes out dung by diverting a river. [Gk. and Rom. Myth. . The unidentified neighbor called 911, jumped the security fence to help the woman, then later called the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County Community and Senior Services' Adult Protective Services In the United States, Adult Protective Services (APS) are social services provided to abused, neglected, or exploited older and/or disabled adults. APS is typically administered by local or state health, aging, or regulatory departments and includes a multi-disciplinary Office seeking help, Campbell said. Nothing changed for Cartwright after that call, said Campbell, who last week arrested three people who had lived with the widow since 1995 on charges of elder financial abuse, alleging that they had bilked Cartwright out of her savings and her property. Pam Smith, a human services administrator for Adult Protective Services, would not confirm whether a complaint had been filed on behalf of Cartwright, citing the woman's right to confidentiality. But she said, if it had, it's possible a social worker called on the woman, but found no problems. ``That nothing happened could be a matter of perception,'' Smith said. ``If we got a report and we investigated, we might have found things appeared OK and there would be nothing for us to do. ``It's not all that easy on a first visit or second visit'' to see if something is amiss with a client, she added. Indeed, Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, Councilwoman Jo Anne Darcy, an advocate for the area's elderly, said she had visited Cartwright in the past year and found her to be in good spirits Adv. 1. in good spirits - without losing equilibrium; "she took all his criticism in stride" in stride . She had a new TV, was living in a better room at the motel and had some special devices to help her get around better, Darcy said. Living with Cartwright was onetime handyman Timothy Watkins and his son and daughter-in-law, Loren and Christina Watkins, Darcy and Campbell said. The trio, Campbell said, had taken over the inn shortly after Cartwright's husband, A.C., died in March 1995. In fact, just four months after her husband died, Timothy Watkins, 53, took the senile senile /se·nile/ (se´nil) pertaining to old age; manifesting senility. se·nile adj. 1. Relating to, characteristic of, or resulting from old age. 2. widow to Las Vegas Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. and married her in a drive-through ceremony, Campbell said. Campbell said he believes Watkins bilked Cartwright of her $250,000 property, deeding it to his son, and took out a $121,000 equity loan out on the motel. Prosecutors filed felony charges of grand theft and elder financial abuse against Watkins and his 28-year-old son and 26-year-old daughter-in-law. In the criminal complaint, authorities allege To state, recite, assert, or charge the existence of particular facts in a Pleading or an indictment; to make an allegation. allege v. the crimes against Cartwright took place between Feb. 19, 1996, and Dec. 30. The couple were arraigned last Friday and are due to return to San Fernando San Fernando, city, Argentina San Fernando (săn fərnăn`dō), city (1991 pop. 144,761), Buenos Aires prov., E Argentina. It is a district administrative center in the Greater Buenos Aires area. Municipal Court on April 29. Los Angeles County sheriff's Detective Chris Christopher said Timothy Watkins, arrested Sunday, is expected to be arraigned today. Defense attorney Christopher Armen declined comment on the case against his client Christina Watkins, except to say she was not guilty. Property records show that Cartwright transferred ownership of her Concorse Drive motel Jan. 23, 1997, in a quit-claim deed to Loren and Christina Watkins. Darcy said she had known the Cartwrights for years and recalled how A.C. Cartwright had worked two jobs to save enough to buy the cottage-style motel, the only inn in the area for decades. The couple opened the motel in the '40s - playing host often to the film crews that worked nearby - and closed for business about 10 years ago when age crept up. Darcy said she was surprised to find the Watkins living at the hotel, but that Cartwright seemed fine. ``She seemed to care for him,'' Darcy said of Timothy Watkins. ``And she was lucid when I saw her, but she never said anything about being married. ``If A.C. knew what was going on with his place, I bet he'd turn over in his grave,'' Darcy said. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO Officials arrested three residents at the Cartwright Motel last week for elder abuse Elder Abuse Definition Elder abuse is a general term used to describe harmful acts toward an elderly adult, such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, financial exploitation, and neglect, including self-neglect. . Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News |
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