A Michigan woman has been arrested after she allegedly held her sister-in-law captive in a basement for approximately two years.
Authorities began an investigation into the matter on March 15 when the 58-year-old woman held captive broke a window at a neighbor’s house in Saginaw, Michigan, and begged for help. The homeowner of the neighboring called 911 after spotting her, and police reported to a nearby residence, where the woman was allegedly held captive.
Tasha Beamon was then arrested and charged with one count of unlawful imprisonment and one count of first-degree vulnerable adult abuse. She is currently being held at the Saginaw County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
Amid the investigation, police learned that Beamon, 48, served as the woman’s caretaker.
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The victim was severely malnourished when officers arrived, according to court documents viewed by the Tampa Free Press. She told investigators that her sister-in-law kept her locked in the basement, while she rarely provided food and refused to give her water.
The victim also told police that her living conditions were stark. As officers looked through the home, they found a single mattress on the basement floor and a bucket filled with urine. Additionally, the door that led to the area had been kept locked.
After she escaped, the victim was evaluated by medical professionals and it was concluded that she was a vulnerable adult. The victim was admitted to a local hospital for treatment, and her current health status is unknown.
Shortly after the victim gave police her statement, authorities spoke to Beamon about the alleged incident and formal charges were filed against her.
It is not currently clear if Beamon has entered a plea or if she has retained legal counsel following her arrest. Meanwhile, it’s not clear if Beamon had a motive for allegedly holding the victim captive.
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The Saginaw Police Department did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for comment regarding the case.
Beamon is scheduled to appear in court proceedings on April 13 and April 20.
Following Beacom’s arrest, Saginaw Police Chief Bob Ruth issued a statement about the incident and applauded authorities for their work that led to the arrest. “I commend the officers and detectives for their thorough work in bringing this case to a close and securing charges related to these deeply troubling allegations,” he said, per ABC 12.
