5 Charged in Walton Elderly Cruelty Case

Five people were facing charges Wednesday night in Walton County for forcing an 84-year-old woman to live in deplorable conditions. Three of the woman's family members were charged with cruelty to the elderly and tampering with evidence. The woman's neighbors were charged with trying to cover up the crime.

"The conditions that she was living in were not conducive for humans to live in, period," said Captain Chris Cannon of the Walton County Sheriff's Office.

Capt. Cannon said 84-year-old Alberta Defillipo was living in deplorable conditions in a double wide mobile home. Cannon said the home was full of fleas, spiders and roaches.

Investigators learned about the woman when they were called by a local hospital on Sunday.

"Her skin, her flesh somewhat rotting away. She had some problems with what appeared to be circulation issues," said Capt. Cannon.

Neighbor Robert Anderson said he was surprised when he noticed the home's residents did not let investigators into the home on Monday. Police returned Tuesday with a search warrant.

"Her living quarters had been cleaned, nothing on the bed no sheets or bed linens," said Capt. Cannon

Investigators found about 40 garbage bags of material removed from the mobile home, but according to Cannon the home was still a mess. Cannon said Defillipo lived in the home with six family members, two cats, two dogs and a rat.

Investigators arrested the Defillipo's' 27-year-old grandson Marlon Fonseca and charged him with cruelty to a person over 65 and tampering with evidence. Defillipo's daughter and son-in-law Marianne and Mathew Fonseca also face the same charges.

The Walton County Sheriff's Office said the neighbors next door to the home were charged with tampering with evidence.

"We feel like they were assisting in this attempt to possibly cover up any type of evidence," said Capt. Cannon.