A man from Chester County, South Carolina, was arrested this week after hiding his 75-year-old father in a closet for weeks while spending his money on drugs, according to authorities.
William Russell Shirley, from Blackstock, South Carolina, was charged with abuse and neglect of a vulnerable adult, resulting in the death and exploitation of a vulnerable adult on Wednesday, March 17.
Chester County Sheriff’s Office delegates were called to a home on Boyd Road in Blackstock, South Carolina, after someone reported a corpse on March 14.
Members found Clyde Shirley, 75, killed in a closet when they arrived at the scene.
Police later found out that Clyde Shirley died on or around February 25 – more than two weeks earlier.
According to the police, witnesses described William Shirley as his father’s primary caregiver.
Since at least February 26, William Shirley had been lying about his father’s condition, according to the police.
In arrest warrants, police said Clyde Shirley was a vulnerable adult who depended on his son for medical care. They said he was in poor health.
When another personal caregiver tried to reach Clyde to check on his condition, William forbade the caregiver to see his father, the arrest warrants (below) said.
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William Shirley “failed to seek the medical care and services necessary to maintain Clyde Shirley’s health by failing to meet medical needs, resulting in a substantial risk of physical condition, injury or death,” the arrest warrants say.
After his father died in February, William Shirley used his father’s debit card and withdrew funds from his Social Security account, according to arrest warrants.
He used that money to buy drugs, according to the police.
In a press release, officials at the sheriff’s office said William Shirley “was a regular drug user and used his father’s money to support his drug addiction.”
William Shirley faces up to 30 years in prison on charges of criminal abuse of elder and up to five years on charges of exploitation.
He was sued at Chester County Detention Center this week and received $ 25,000 bail.
The Chester County Sheriff’s Office, the Chester County Coroner’s Office and SLED have investigated the case, which will be prosecuted by the Sixth Circuit Attorney’s Office.
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