CONYERS, Ga. -- In March, the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office arrested 45-year-old Tomeka Williams for running an illegal personal care home to exploit disabled adult women.
When Williams was arrested, there were eight "emotionally disabled" residents living in the home, ranging in age from 24 to 80.
Williams was charged with operating an unlicensed personal care home and with eight counts of exploitation of disabled adults.
A man who worked for Williams, 48-year-old Tony Powell, is sought by authorities on charges of aggravated assault, exploitation of disabled adults and intimidation of a disabled adult, simple battery.
Officials said Powell was supposed to live in the home and take care of the women. He allegedly used a shock cane on the women. The canes are typically used as self-defense items by elderly people.
"Georgia Adult Protective Services assisted us with relocating the majority of them," Investigator Dawn Murrain said. "One or two have been placed with family members, but we have been able to find licensed facilities that can take them on an emergency basis and they are all safe and sound right now."
After Williams was arrested, investigators discovered that she was running up to seven other illegal homes in metro Atlanta.
"Several more in other counties," said Murrain. "Right now the investigation is still going on and the second individual, Tony Powell, he is still at large."
Since her March arrest, Williams has bonded out of the Rockdale County Jail. Her husband, Jacolby Williams is now also under investigation by the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office.
The ongoing investigation uncovered a number of other unlicensed personal care homes in several metro Atlanta counties that Williams is suspected of running: two homes in Rockdale County, two homes in Newton County, two homes in DeKalb County and one home in Clayton County.
► PHOTOS | Illegal personal care home in Conyers
Just how large is the elder abuse problem overall? "I'm sure the public would be blown away and it is actually a much larger issue than people realize. As small as Rockdale County is we are approximately 90,000 residents and we have had 488 cases investigated between 2013 and 2017," said Rockdale County Probate Judge Clarence Cuthpert, Jr.
In response to the increasing number of elder abuse cases, Rockdale County officials have developed a program to help provide resources to help individuals who are elderly or at risk of being taken advantage of.
Rockdale County's program is called PEARL -- for Protecting our Elderly and At-Risk with Resources for Better Living.
"The premise is that we want to provide immediate resources for individuals who are elderly or at-risk, at-risk meaning having a diminished capacity and 18 years of age or older. If they're being abused, taken advantage of, or just self-neglect and just need some help."
City, county, and state resources are being pooled as part of the PEARL program to educate community and church leaders and others about the services available to the elderly and those at-risk. Community meetings are being planned to distribute information to the public about the program, so that family and friends know how to anonymously report abuse.
The first indication of the abuse at Williams' first home came from a 911 call because one of the women in the house recognized the signs of abuse.
"We are protecting people and their safety is in our best interest," Murrain said. "That is all we want."
Rockdale County authorities said for more information about the county's PEARL program, they can visit the website at www.rockdalepearl.org or call 770-278-8159.
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