News Releases

Son Charged With Abuse of 87-Year-Old Mother

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department- Elder/Vulnerable Adult Abuse Unit have arrested James Kirkland, age 57, of the 6000 block of Beech Avenue in Bethesda, and have charged him with causing abuse to his 87-year-old mother.

On May 1 at approximately 3:00 a.m., Montgomery County Fire & Rescue responded to a residence in the 6000 block of Beech Avenue in Bethesda for a sick patient. Fire & Rescue personnel transported an 87-year-old woman, now identified as Kirkland’s mother, to the hospital because she was in need of medical treatment. Montgomery County Adult Protective Services (APS) was notified that the patient showed signs of possible neglect and abuse.  APS then notified the detectives from the Elder/Vulnerable Adult Abuse Unit.

Police investigators responded to the hospital and met with medical personnel. Medical personnel informed detectives that the victim had wounds on her backside and legs that were packed with newspaper and a powdery substance; when the newspaper was removed, the victim’s spine was visible. The victim also had to have compression socks surgically removed as they had become fused to her feet. Investigators learned that Kirkland was the primary caretaker of his mother.

Detectives then responded to the home on Beech Avenue and located Kirkland. They observed that the interior of the home was not being maintained. Kirkland was transported to the police station for questioning. He told police that he is responsible for his mother’s physical care and feeding. Late in the evening on May 1, Kirkland was transported to the Central Processing Unit and was charged with causing abuse that resulted in serious physical injury to his mother, who is a vulnerable adult, (a felony), and causing abuse to his mother in his role as a caregiver (a misdemeanor). Kirkland has been released on bond.

The victim remains in the hospital in very serious condition.

RLI

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Release ID: 15-129
Media Contact: mcpnews 
Categories: press-releases